NOTAP fault tertiary institutions for low technological development in Nigeria
By Ene Ikpa
The Director General of the National office for Technology Acquisition and promotion NOTAP Dr Dan Azumi Mohammed Ibrahim has held tertiary Institutions culpable for low technological development in the country.
Dr. was of the opinion that the Nigerian tertiary institutions where technologies are generated, produce low intellectual property culture.
He stated this at his appointment as chairman of Government Academia and Industry Board of igbinedion University Okada Edo state.
The appointment was announced recently by the vice chancellor of the university, professor Lawrence Ikechukwu Ezemonye at the university research day held at the university complex ‘Tagged’ Greening Academia industry Research Synergy to promote sustainable development in Nigeria’.
As the key note speaker, the Director General who was humbled by the appointment , acknowledge the Igbinedion University Okada was a pioneer private owned university system in Nigeria established in 1999 with focus on learning , research and entrepreneurship.
He noted that the technological growth and development of Nigeria should be a collective responsibility of every Nigerian irrespective of his or her ethnic or religious affiliation.
While lamenting that Nigeria has the largest knowledge infrastructure in West Africa sub-region, however,he said over 90%of the technology that power the Nigerian economy is imported and for a country that aspires to be one of the top 20 countries in the world in 2020 cannot depend solely on importation from other countries.
“Nigeria as a country should leverage on the existing foreign technology to stimulate domestic inclusive of her economy.
Meanwhile, in fastracking the linkage between the academia and industry, NOTAP launched a programme called NOTAP , Industry, Technology transfer fellowship (NITTF)
A programme for PhD program sponsored by the industry to young talented Nigerians with masters degree and ready and willing to undertake PhD programme in any Nigerian university.
A scheme which 15 fifteen fellows are already benefiting from.
Earlier on the vice chancellor who inaugurated the board said NOTAP was very strategic to the development of science and technology and innovation in the country, adding that the industry and academia linkage will boost the institutions drive to technological development.
