The National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) is an agency under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation is vested with the power to track the inflow of technology into Nigeria. It has engaged in series of programmes to improve local content for advancing the economy. BINTA SHAMA reports.
As stated on the website of the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), that the present era of globalization and liberalization in the world economy, every nation that desires a positive change or results, must be able to harness her ideas, inventions, innovations and creative works towards technological advancement and global competitiveness.
‘To nurture national talents, Nigeria requires identification of her researchers and inventors; creation of an enabling environment and to initiate strategies to protect all the stakeholders and their creative works. The Federal Government of Nigeria, in recognition and appreciation of the above facts, established Federal Ministry of Science and Technology with its various parastatals and agencies to carry out such activities.’
About NOTAP
The National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), is an Agency of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology (FMST), which was established in response to Nigeria’s need to facilitate the emergence of a strong Science Technology and Innovation (STI), system reflective of the desire to evolve a strong economy based on Science and Technology. Specifically, NOTAP is aimed to systematically track the inflow of technology into the country, strategize for its adaptation and domestication. The organization is also responsible for coordinating Nigeria’s initiatives in technology transfer; evaluation and registration of technology transfer agreements; promotion of innovation, patenting & intellectual property; technology advisory and support services; commercialization of R&D results; research-industry linkage; production of compendium management information system; publication of project profiles on R&D results; promotion and popularization of S&T training and capacity building in schools and tertiary Institutions; promoting industry driven R&D’s in tertiary institutions and research institutions, etc. NOTAP serves as a functional bridge in sustaining the link between the research community and industry, thus making it a strong anchor for stimulating national development.
NOTAP is mandated with the powers to carryout the following: Evaluation/Registration of Technology Transfer Agreements; Promotion of Intellectual Property; Technology Advisory and Support Services; Commercialization of R& D Results; Research Industry Linkage; Maintenance of a Compendium on R&D activities in the country; Production and Publication of Industrial Project Profiles on SMEs, etc. It is my humble belief that NOTAP, through its current and future activities, backed with dedicated and efficient personnel, adequate Government support and funding, would take this country to greater heights scientifically and technologically.
Collaborations
In view of achieving the mandate, NOTAP partners with organisations to increase local content in production and above all, move Nigeria’s economy forward.
NOTAP and FrieslandCompina Wamco
Speaking at a one day sensitization workshop on Dairy Development Project, held recently in Bayero University Kano (BUK) for the North Western part of Nigeria, the Director General of NOTAP Dr. DanAzimi Mohammed Ibrahim, said in line with the policy of his organisation on local content promotion for the acceleration of Nigerians technology development, decided to partner to increase local content in dairy production in Nigeria.
The Director General of NOTAP who was represented by the Director Consultancy Services department, Dr. Adamu Tandama said that the partnership was necessitated by the need to align with government’s directive on local content development. “The Dairy project was introduced as a result of collaboration between the Office and FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc on how local value addition to milk produced in Nigeria and as well ensure availability of milk for our teeming population. Nigeria has large number of cows roaming about but produces little quantity of milk whereas some developed countries such as Netherlands and Vietnam with high technology on dairy project have small number of cows but produce large quantity of milk.
“FrieslandCampina Wamco Plc, has been operating in Nigeria for over six decades, yet the technology responsible for quality and high milk yield still resides in their parent company. In order to ensure technology transfer in dairy industry, the Office in 2013 opened discussion with Friesland Campina Wamco to establish mini milk collection centers in Ibadan, Oyo state. The company, built a settlement for the Fulani herders, ranchedtheir cows and introduced them to the global best practices in growing cows and milking processes which has turned to a lucrative business.
“The company has built a very successful global dairy programme and Nigeria has the potential to do well in dairy development if well managed. With the present achievement of our partnership, every cup of milk consumed in the country today, has two percent of local content in it and we intend to work on the increase for greater supply and developed economy,” Ibrahim stated.
The representative of FrieslandCompina Wamco Plc, Dr. Akinade Adebayo Samson in a virtual presentation of a paper titled “Opportunities for Entrepreneurs in Dairy Value Chain” said that there are huge economic benefits in diary business as entrepreneurs could make money through sale of cow milk for production of Peak milk, yoghurts, cow cheese, leather, and meat.
Intervention by NOTAP
Recently, at the disbursement of NOTAP industry technology transfer fellowship (NITTF) award where 41 researchers and inventors were presented with patent certificates, the Minister of State for Science, Technology and Innovation said the initiative is known for providing efficient process for the acquisition and domestication of foreign technologies as enshrined in section 4© of NOTAP ACT.
“The scheme will serve as a platform through which industries support the process of building the needed critical mass of skilled knowledge workers of technology transfer in the country. The scheme will create an impact for the Federal Government’s Economic sustainability plan programme where researches are translated to production activities and create jobs for youths.
“The overall importance of NOTAP is to upgrade research institutions. Allow me to use this medium to urge other industries yet to key into the NITFF scheme by sponsoring more candidates for a brighter tomorrow. As well as our patent recipients should try and make more efforts to move their Research and Development results to be available in the market, which at the end boost the nation’s overall socio-economic fortunes.
Similarly, the Director General of NOTAP, Dr. DanAzimi Mohammed Ibrahim said for any economy to become independent, there is a need for capacity building.
“For any nation to become economically independent, we have to develop the necessary capacities i.e. the human resources God has given us. In the process, we realise the gap demarcated between us and developing nations and our capacity to converge our raw materials into products and services, food supply, because we don’t need importing anything into the country, export and make income from other nations.
“We can’t do it alone, the scientists are expected to come out with technologies that should be able to assist Nigeria improve on the quality of life of our citizens. It is very sad to note that, more than 90% of the technologies that power the Nigeria’s economy, are imported technologies. No nation that is aspiring to become economically independent will fold its arms and allow it economy collapse. We see the quantum amount that leaves this country as licensing fees, so inspire of our intervention, we feel the private sector and research communities have responsibilities to come together to see how we can catapult our country into economic prosperity,” he added.
