Society Of Testing Laboratory Analysts Of Nigeria Strategies Ahead 2021 Conference … Promises Quality Services

Society Of Testing Laboratory Analysts Of Nigeria Strategies Ahead 2021 Conference

… Promises Quality Services

The Society of Testing Laboratory ANALYSTS OF NIGERIA has kick started modalities that will enhance the smooth actualization of concerns of Public Analysts in their forth coming conference.

The conference will touch on burning issues as well as offer opportunity to rub minds on way forward on the practice of the profession in the mist of COVID -19 challenges.

This was revealed in a press conference

held 10th September, 2021 at IPAN Secretariat, Yaba, Lagos

Delivering his speech, the President, Society Of Testing Laboratory Analysts Of Nigeria, (SOTLAN), Dr. Femi Oyediran

said the outbreak of corona virus in the world in 2019 and Nigeria in Feb 2020 has had great toll on all spheres of life and the impact is still being felt globally to date, affecting health business, environment and lifestyle.

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“It is a great pleasure for me to address this gathering as it relates to the practice of our profession especially in times like this when the advent of COVID-19 has changed every facet of human life and business enterprises.

“The outbreak of corona virus in the world in 2019 and Nigeria in Feb 2020 has had great toll on all spheres of life and the impact is still being felt globally to date, affecting health business, environment and lifestyle.

The practice of analytical testing the President noted  is not exempted from the impact on procurement of reagents and equipment, attendance at work, training of staff and patronage among others.

Lamenting, he said,

“The pandemic exposed the inadequacy of our testing facilities and procedures especially when large number of samples are to be tested.

The Public Analysts are key stakeholders in ensuring continued existence of humanity, sustain trade and enterprises.

“A thousand and one contaminants that are capable of wrecking more havoc than COVID-19 are not presently being considered as important in this part of the world but are found everywhere around us.

Explaining further,

“Dioxins and furans, snipers, phosphine, chemicals of different toxicity and hazard are being handled carelessly and sold in the open and unregulated markets.

Biohazards from lots of facilities and the environment are areas that the analysts will be confronted in the near future.

Analysis of such substances cannot be done in the traditional way as results are needed in a speedy manner; more robust, time-saving equipment and devices, in fact, sensors and robots may be necessary to test such substances.

The question asked is,

“Are Nigerian analysts prepared for the opportunities ahead? Yes.

 Are they properly equipped to handle such, is the question that we shall be answering during our interaction in the coming days when the 2021 Conference of Public Analysts is held. The theme for the conference is Analytical Testing Laboratories in Post COVID-19 Era: Realities and Opportunities.  Our team of experts including our foreign partners shall be discussing the theme with a view to proffer efficient practices that post COVID-19 era will bring.

Bruno Latour once said, give me a laboratory and I will raise the world.  We can indeed raise the world if we are conscious of the realities of our time and take opportunities that abound around us.

Still explaining he said,

“The time has come for the Public Analysts to position ourselves and align with both National and international organisations and key stakeholders for the betterment of citizenry and our business to thrive.

“To be competitive, we need to upgrade our services by ensuring that our laboratories have the required recognition which includes registration with IPAN and ISO 17025 accreditation.  We also need to certify our analysts for continued service delivery.

“Networking among practitioners and key stakeholders on the continent and the generality of analytical community in the world is important now than before.

While acknowledging the importance of networking of practitioners, the president charged members to uphold best practices of the profession

 “As a member of the International Union of Independent Laboratories (UILI), we owe it a duty to promote best practices among ourselves and deliver quality services at all times.

“Though we are in a very harsh environment due to the non-appreciation of the preventive services rendered by our members, very expensive working tools – laboratory equipment and chemicals, poor or near zero equipment maintenance, low patronage by the public and corporate organisations due to our attitude to quality infrastructure in Nigeria, it has become imperative for us to key into the opportunities that the pandemic presents despite daunting challenges.

 “Opportunities they say once lost cannot be easily regained, we cannot pretend that things will continue to be the way they were before COVID-19 era, so we need new approaches in the way we serve our clients, train our staff or update our knowledge.

“There is urgent need for us to re-strategize and look for ways to meet the teeming demands that the present situation brought with it.  We need to invest more in modern equipment that could help us deliver quality services seamlessly within a very short period of time.

“We also need to showcase our services to the entire world in a different manner, explore social media, attend and participate in trade shows, run a vibrant web presence and embrace changes that post COVID -19 era will bring with it.  More awareness is needed for testing and partnership with the media practitioners would be a welcome development going forward.

“We have put together a theme that would take us through memory lane on how the profession evolved, discuss present realities and take a glimpse of what the future holds in the new normal.  There cannot be any better time to discuss this than now.  I therefore invite you all to be part of this programme that promises to be the best Conference ever held by the Institute.

Other highlights of the programme include student essay competition that is aimed at catching them young; expert presentations by both local and International Professionals, including one of the former Head of Service of the Federation who is one of us; Analysts’ Night and investiture of Fellows.

“In addition, we shall undertake a 3-day laboratory fair, which is first of its kind, to bring together stakeholders in the laboratory sector including students, equipment suppliers, laboratories, manufacturers, regulatory agencies under the same roof.

The programme promises to be the event of the season and you cannot afford to miss out.

Thank you and I look forward to seeing you at the programme venue, OSTRA Hotels and Halls on Tuesday 14 September 2021.

Present together with the President were the Vice President & Chairman, LOC of COPA 2021, Prof. Olugbenga Ogunmoyela Members of National Executive Council of SoTLAN

IPAN Registrar, Mr. Aliyu Angara