A team from the Sahelian Institute for Bamboo Research and Entrepreneurship Development (SIBRED), led by the founding Director of the Institute, Ir. John Agbo Ogbodo, visited Scientific Equipment Development Institute (SEDI), Enugu on Thursday, 12th December 2024. SEDI, Enugu had received a letter dated 2nd October 2024 from SIBRED on the need for them to visit the Institute in order to discuss collaborative possibilities as well as commercial opportunities that abound in bamboo products research and manufacturing.
Knowing that there is currently high business prospect in bamboo products research and manufacturing in the world.
SIBRED was established to build applied research excellence and knowledge for sustainable innovations and entrepreneurship education and development, green economy, bamboo for energy, policy advocacy and institution buildings in countries of the Sahelian Africa together with their bordering neighbouring countries. To achieve these goals, SIBRED deemed it relevant to collaborate with SEDI, Enugu; an Institute that is renowned in research activities, developing of templates for manufacturing and, other related technical prowess in new products development.
The SIBRED team leader gave an overview of the mission and vision of his Institute and what they expect from SEDI, Enugu in the proposed collaboration. Succinctly put, he informed that SIBRED is on the mission of promoting bamboo research for industrial innovation and entrepreneurship.
Dr. Ephraim Ozoihu and Engr. C.L. Ichi gave brief background information on the activities of SEDI, Enugu. After the brief overview, detailed discussions commenced and were centered on the following subject matters:
- Translational Research: This was an important term in the teams’ discussions. It held that while theoretical researches are established in bamboo products development, the need to translate them into physical products should become a task that needs to be actualized. This is where SEDI’s research, development and manufacturing prowess is needed in order to achieve proposed commercialization goals.
- Grants: The SIBRED team informed the house that there is the prospect of accessing a N200,000,000.00 grant from Raw Material Research and Development Council (RMRDC); particularly, to develop and commercialize bamboo bicycles.
- Existing Markets: The SIBRED team informed the house that there are already existing markets for a select of bamboo products in the United State of America and in other parts of Europe. That, these prospective market opportunities are supported by the policy that currently bans deforestation activities in the whole of Europe. In the specifics, it was held that Bamboo Bicycles and Biochar products are in high demand in USA and many parts of Europe in particular. This is evidenced in the assurances given by some of the facilitators of the project, Mrs. Diana from the USA; and Mr. Fred from Spain. It is also evidenced in the already booming bamboo bicycle production business in Ghana.
- Journal Article: In order to create more educational materials in the area of bamboo research, in SIBRED, the need to research and publish journal articles in international journals was eminent. This was expected to also prove to the facilitators of the programme that, the bamboo products initiative is doable. In the light of this, the team leader, SIBRED, suggested that staff members from both teams should develop such paper(s) for publication in International Journal(s). He also stressed the urgency of this paper publication(s) and wished that the work is ready on or before March, 2025.
- Curricula development: The need to develop a robust curriculum that will cover the theoretical and practical aspects of the teaching and learning of bamboo research activities was made bare. This was expected to be drawn by both teams as the collaboration grows between the various Institutes. The curriculum is expected to also be supported by the journal articles.
- Revenue Generation: It was discussed that value addition on bamboo craft is expected to be geared towards generating revenue both for individual entrepreneurs and for established Institutes. Knowing that revenue generation is the life-wire of any investment, assurances were given that, substantial revenue will accrue from the proposed bamboo products research, development and commercialization initiative. The need for both teams to take this initiative seriously by developing, mass producing and marketing varied brands of bamboo products was therefore reiterated.
- Bamboo Plantation: It was alluded that bamboo plantation/farming is a profitable venture that would service bamboo research cum production initiatives in the nearest future. The SIBRED team therefore encouraged budding and established entrepreneurs as well as farmers, to look in that direction with their investments.
- Technical Dimensions: It was mutually agreed by both teams that, the need for technical or practical demonstration of bamboo craft and education is relevant; and, SEDI, Enugu is expected to make it possible. It was therefore suggested that students from SIBRED would have the need to visit SEDI, Enugu for practical demonstration, as part of their training and learning requirements in SIBRED.
- Memorandum of Understanding: It was finally agreed that, detailed terms and conditions would have to be assembled, filtered, designed and developed into an MoU. This was to ensure that the varied interests of the various Institutes are properly represented in ‘trust’.
The visit was conluded with a facility tour and an agreemnent to formalize the days activity with an MOU.