NOTAP, NUJ Forge Partnership On Innovation Promotion

The National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion, NOTAP, has reaffirmed its commitment to commercialising research findings from Nigerian institutions through strategic partnerships, investor linkages and funding opportunities aimed at boosting national revenue and industrial growth.

The Director-General of NOTAP, Dr. Obiageli Amadiobi, stated this in Abuja while receiving the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, during a courtesy visit to the agency’s headquarters.

Amadiobi announced that the agency would host a National Technology and Innovation Summit in Lagos on October 7 and 8, bringing together researchers, innovators, manufacturers, financial institutions, investors and the Bank of Industry to facilitate the commercialisation of research outputs.

She said the summit would provide a platform for researchers to connect with investors and industry players through strategic matchmaking, enabling innovations developed in Nigerian institutions to attract funding, enter the market and contribute to economic growth.

According to her, the initiative is in line with NOTAP’s mandate to promote technology acquisition, encourage indigenous innovation and ensure research findings are transformed into commercially viable products capable of creating jobs, enhancing competitiveness and increasing government revenue.

The Director-General stressed that journalists have a critical role in promoting science, technology and innovation through effective public education and awareness.

She said NOTAP’s mandate also includes adapting imported technologies to meet Nigeria’s development needs by strengthening local capacity to understand, deploy and improve foreign technologies.

Amadiobi noted that the agency’s Local Vendor Policy had significantly reduced dependence on foreign technologies, particularly in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector, by compelling Original Equipment Manufacturers to invest in the training of Nigerians.

She added that the policy had contributed to the emergence of indigenous software developers and ICT professionals and that the agency plans to replicate the model in manufacturing, engineering and other strategic sectors.

The NOTAP boss further disclosed that the agency is developing a technology and innovation hub that will provide practical demonstrations of emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, to support interactive learning and innovation.

She said NOTAP is also partnering with Huawei, MTN and Airtel to strengthen staff capacity and improve Nigeria’s ability to assess imported technologies.

On youth development, Amadiobi unveiled the National Outsourcing Value Acceleration (NOVA) Programme, designed to equip young Nigerians with industry-relevant skills through simulation-based training and practical field experience in sectors including engineering, manufacturing and maritime.

She added that several state governments, including Niger State, have expressed interest in collaborating with NOTAP to establish innovation centres.

Earlier, the Chairman of the NUJ FCT Council, Comrade Grace Ike, described NOTAP as a strategic institution driving Nigeria’s technological advancement through technology acquisition, transfer, intellectual property protection and indigenous innovation.

She said the council was seeking a partnership with NOTAP in public enlightenment, innovation advocacy, capacity building and technology reporting.

Ike also proposed regular training for journalists covering science, technology and innovation to improve reporting on intellectual property, research commercialisation, technology transfer and innovation policies, while advocating joint public awareness campaigns on intellectual property rights, patents and technology transfer.

PR Oduyemi, Odumade