The Federal Government has commended the Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria (IPAN) for its unwavering dedication to strengthening Nigeria’s scientific foundation and safeguarding public health.
Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, gave the commendation in a message to the maiden edition of the Nigeria ANALAB Summit 2025 held in Lagos, with the theme “Strengthening Analytical Laboratories for Public Health, Environmental Protection and Industrial Growth in Nigeria.”
Represented by the Director and National Coordinator, Food Safety and Quality Programme, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Mr. Atanda Olugbemiga, Dr. Salako described the analytical laboratory sector as one of the most vital yet underappreciated pillars of national development.
He highlighted that laboratories play a silent but crucial role in protecting lives—testing water and air quality, detecting contaminants in food, ensuring the efficacy of medicines, supporting disease surveillance, and validating products for trade.
“Laboratories are not just scientific facilities—they are national assets,” he emphasized.
Dr. Salako, however, lamented that the sector continues to grapple with inadequate infrastructure, regulatory bottlenecks, fragmented oversight, and insufficient recognition of its strategic importance in public health and national growth.
In his remarks, IPAN Registrar, Alhaji Abdullah Angara, said the summit was not merely to discuss laboratories as physical structures but to recognize them as critical infrastructure for national survival, economic competitiveness, and public confidence.
He noted that the analytical laboratory sector operates at the intersection of science, trade, innovation, and regulation, serving as the “invisible engine” behind safe food, quality medicines, and other health-related products.
“Tragic incidents like the ‘My Pikin’ saga and recurring food and cosmetic contamination remind us that a nation’s health is only as strong as its laboratories,” Angara said.
Also speaking, the President of the Society of Testing Laboratory Analysts of Nigeria (SoTLAN), Mr. Bolawa Gbolahan, called for greater funding, management, and regulation to enhance global competitiveness.
“’With stronger partnerships, the analytical laboratory sector can significantly advance Nigeria’s public health, environmental sustainability, and export competitiveness,” he affirmed.
Gbolahan also pledged SoTLAN’s continued collaboration with IPAN in building a vibrant, well-regulated, and sustainable analytical laboratory ecosystem for national development.
