In a significant step towards enhancing the peaceful application of nuclear science in the nation’s scientific and regulatory capabilities, the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) in collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) today convened a critical stakeholders’ workshop for the Nigeria Country Project NIR/2024/004.

 

The project, focused on “Establishing a National Sample Preparation Laboratory and Strengthening National Capacity in the Preparation of Samples for Qualitative and Quantitative Chemical Elemental Analysis,” aims to create a central hub for processing samples from mining sites, soil, food, and biological materials.

 

The workshop was officially declared open by the Acting Chairman/CEO NAEC Engr.Dr Anthony Ekedegwa who was represented by the Director of the Nuclear Technology Center, Engineer Tajudeen Mustapha. In his opening address, he charged the participants with a clear mandate;

 

“I urge you all to deeply deliberate on the core objectives of this workshop and come up with actionable recommendations and reports that will guide the successful implementation of this vital national project,” Engineer Mustapha stated, emphasizing the need for tangible outcomes.

 

The project counterpart, Engineer Kingsley Inyanda, provided a comprehensive overview of the workshop’s agenda and underscored its profound relevance to national development. He highlighted that the establishment of a national laboratory is crucial for generating reliable data to inform policy in critical areas such as mineral exploitation, food safety, agricultural productivity, and public health monitoring.

 

The project, NIR/2024/004, is designed to address a fundamental gap in Nigeria’s analytical science infrastructure. By establishing a standardized, state-of-the-art sample preparation laboratory, the country will reduce its dependency on foreign labs for essential data, thereby saving costs and time while ensuring data sovereignty.

 

Key expected outcomes from the project include:

 

· Enhanced Mining Sector: Accurate elemental analysis of mining samples to boost investor confidence and ensure sustainable resource management.

· Improved Food Safety: Reliable detection of harmful elements like heavy metals in food products to protect consumer health.

· Advanced Agriculture: Detailed soil analysis to guide precision farming and enhance crop yields.

· Robust Public Health: Capacity for precise analysis of biological samples for disease monitoring and clinical research.

 

The collaborative workshop brought together a diverse group of stakeholders from government ministries, regulatory agencies, the mining industry, and academic institutions, all unified in their commitment to seeing this transformative project through to success.