Unilorin Professor Promotes Growth of Microbial Industries in Nigeria
Professor Patricia Folakemi Omojasola, from the Department of Microbiology at the University of Ilorin’s Faculty of Life Sciences, has emphasized the imperative for Nigerian industries and microbiology graduates nationwide to scale up the commercial production of indigenous microbial products such as ‘Ogi’, ‘Iru’, ‘Okpehe’, ‘and Nunu
In her 261st inaugural lecture titled “Microorganisms in the Service of Man”, she underscored that these products could greatly benefit from enhanced shelf life and modern packaging, yet their production remains localized and small-scale, relying on outdated traditional methods while highlighting the pivotal role of microorganisms, she discussed their capability to convert agricultural wastes into valuable industrial raw materials and proposed the use of simple bioreactors at waste sites to produce microbial metabolites, which can then be aggregated to meet the demands of larger industries.
Despite microorganisms often being associated with diseases like epidemics and pandemics throughout history, including the recent COVID-19 pandemic, she stressed their essential and positive contributions across various facets of human life.
“Microorganisms are used in various biotechnological applications, including enzyme production, bioprocessing, and genetic engineering”, she said, adding that “enzymes produced by microorganisms are used in industrial processes such as laundry detergents, biofuel production, and pharmaceutical manufacturing”. She said
Additionally, she emphasized their significance in food production, preservation, detoxification, and flavor enhancement through fermentation processes and how microorganisms contribute significantly to enhancing soil fertility, promoting plant health, and recycling nutrients, thus playing crucial roles in agricultural sustainability.
In conclusion, Professor Omojasola’s inaugural lecture emphasized the untapped potential of microorganisms in Nigeria’s industrial landscape and urged for concerted efforts to harness their capabilities for sustainable development and economic growth.
