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About Us

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BRIEF HISTORY

The Projects Development Institute (PRODA) is Federal Government Industrial Research and Development Institute with the motto: Industrialization through Self-Reliance. It was established as Projects Development Agency (PRODA) by the defunct East Central State at the end of the Nigerian Civil war with 3 Independence Layout, Enugu, as its Headquarters, while operating pottery and engineering workshops in Ekulu, both of which originally, belonged to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in Enugu. The aim then was to channel through applied research and technological innovation, the energies and newly found self-confidence of the indigenous engineers, scientist, and technicians into the solution of problems of industrial development of the state in particular, and Nigeria as a whole. Before the edict establishing it as a statutory Corporation was promulgated on 10th April, 1971 (Edict No. 11 of 1971), the Agency existed as a department of the Government, initially under the Ministry of Trade and Industry, but later, under the aegis of the Cabinet Office.

In 1976, with the creation of Anambra and Imo States, the Agency was taken over by the Federal Government. In the new dispensation, it came under the authority of the Nigerian Council of Science and Technology (NCST) which later by decree No. 5 of 1977, PRODA Enugu became one of the Research Institutes placed under the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA).

Its name was changed from the original Projects Development Agency to present Projects Development Institute, while maintaining the acronym ‘PRODA’. With the creation in 1980, of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, PRODA became one of the Research Institutes of the ministry till date.

Our Vision

To make Nigeria one of the acknowledged leaders of the scientifically and technologically developed nations of the world.

Our Mission

To facilitate the development and deployment of science and technology apparatus to enhance the pace of socio-economic development of the country through appropriate technological inputs into productive activities.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Demand-driven research at PRODA, in the over 40 years of its existence, has led to innovative breakthroughs in agro-produce processing machinery and other industrial mechanical appliances. The number of patents filed by the Institute attests to the innovativeness of our researchers.

Through collaborations and partnerships, PRODA has established cottage industries in various communities, and supervised over one thousand (1000) Constituency Projects from which over four hundred thousand jobs have been created nationwide. Though these performance indicators have demonstrated the Institute’s capacity to mass produce the products of research and development, much still has to be done to successfully commercialize these findings and make them competitive locally and globally. This will become a reality shortly, following the directive from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation to lay more emphasis on the commercialization of R&D products. This publication on PRODA’s activities highlights the miscellaneous projects the Institute has embarked upon, through the years, with varying degrees of success.

From the early years through to the turn of the millennium, PRODA’s Ekulu workshop, located on the Enugu-Onitsha expressway, was a hub of activities where the machine tools shop floor, the foundry workshop and ceramics production unit held sway in eastern Nigeria and beyond. It provided solutions transcending key sectors of the economy – military, agriculture, automotive, housing, education, machine tools, etc. Further impact was felt through skills acquisition programmes that empowered budding artisans and entrepreneurs. Industrial trainees from tertiary institutions left fulfilled.

The turn of the millennium witnessed a hiatus resulting from ecological threats at the Ekulu location. It became untenable to continue activities there. The relocation of the workshops, from circa 2006, to the present Emene location was protracted, owing to funding challenges. The digital era was upon us and with it the need to modernize our equipment, machinery and methodologies. The halcyon days are not yet back. However, with the array of state-of-the-art equipment housed in the technical departments and the renewed emphasis on personnel training (home and abroad), the Institute’s visibility is being felt again.

This focuses on the breakthrough processes and products – electrical porcelain insulators, refractory bricks, solid fuel stoves, smokeless coal briquettes, innovative products from agricultural and other wastes, agricultural produce processing machinery, and other relevant technologies. Many of these findings have been exhibited at Trade Fairs, FMSTI-organized Technical Expositions and other forums, and shared at professional body’s annual conferences, workshops and seminars by our scientists, engineers and technologists, and publications in local and international journals.

PRODA’s CORE MANDATES

The Projects Development Institute shall carry out research in industrial materials and processes to pilot plant stages, including engineering design, development and fabrication, and shall in particular conduct research into –

Mandate 1

Materials science and technology, including metallurgy, foundry work, plastics and synthetic fibres;

Mandate 2

Processing of ceramic materials and other solid based minerals for industrial use, including development of ceramic, glass and mineral technology;

Mandate 3

Processing of local foodstuffs of economic value;

Mandate 4

Mechanical engineering including engineering design, fabrication, machining and other processes;

Mandate 5

Coal utilization;

Mandate 6

Electrical and electronic elements particularly electrical generators, motors, transformers and switchgear;

Mandate 7

Science laboratory equipment development including apparatus for teaching of the physical sciences and engineering;

Mandate 8

Economic evaluation of research results to establish their viability in industrial projects;

Mandate 9

Technical, analytical and consultancy service for existing and planned industries;

Mandate 10

Any other related matters as may be determined from time to time by the Minister.