Stakeholders Brainstorm On Bamboo Technology For Job Creation, Fight Climate Change

Nigerian stakeholders have organised a workshop to brainstorm on the deployment of bamboo technology to diversify the economy, create jobs for the teaming youth of the country and mitigate the impact of climate change.

This was the focus of a one- day collaborative stakeholders’ workshop organised by the Federal Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation (FMSTI) and the Nigerian Building Roads and Research Institute (NBRRI) in Abuja on Tuesday tagged “the utilization of the bamboo technology to improve the economy and sustainable livelihood”.

Permanent secretary of the Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation, Mr. Monilola Udoh, while declaring the workshop open, said it was aimed at exploring the potential of bamboo as a versatile and eco-friendly resource for various industrial and economic diversifications, job creation and to mitigate Climate Change.

She said “As a Party to the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change, Nigeria is committed to the goal of reducing Greenhouse gases emissions and complying with the resolutions from the Twenty Seventh Conference of Partners (COP27) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) which informed all countries to start implementation of their climate pledges and actions.”

She added that in line with this development the Federal Ministry and NBRRI has established Research and Development Competence in the production and utilisation of Bamboo products/ technologies that “will help to forestall environmental degradation, improve the economy, mitigate climate change and create sustainable livelihood and jobs.

“These products would not  only reduce the nation’s reliance on fossil fuel but would also help Nigeria fulfill her commitment under the Nationally Determined Contribution(NDCs) which entails cutting emissions in seven strategic sectors of the economy.

“In addition the Federal Executive Council has approved the conduct of the National Technology Action Plan for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation in Nigeria’s most vulnerable economic sectors and presentation of the National Technology Action Plan (NTAP)”, she said.

The Director of Environmental Sciences and Technology in the Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation, Dr. Peter Ekweozor, in his remarks said that bamboo technology could be a key factor in national development and the enhancement of technology when harnessed.

Bamboo is a fast-growing plant that is strong, light weighted, renewable and has a wide range of applications in construction, furniture, handcrafts, textiles, and many other industries in the production of a variety of products.