Nigeria imports 90% of its technology needs

Similarly, The Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), D. M. Ibrahim, has lamented the slow pace of technological  development in the country, revealing that over 90 per cent of the technologies that power Nigeria are imported.

The Director General made this observation at the commissioning of the Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Office (IPTTO) at the University of Ilorin and the training of the institutions’ staff on creation, management and enforcement of intellectual property rights.

According to Ibrahim, NOTAP, which is a parastatal under the Ministry of Science and Technology, has a vision to move Nigeria from the periphery to the dominant centre of global industrial power structure within the shortest possible time and make her a
major global powerhouse of the 21st Century through an efficient Technology Acquisition Strategy and a vibrant innovation.

He explained further that  NOTAP’s goal is “to ensure the acceleration of Nigeria’s drive towards a rapid technological
revolution by an efficient acquisition/absorption of foreign technology and a concerted development of indigenous technological capability through a proactive promotion of innovation and commercialisation of technology”.

Ibrahim noted that the programme, which started in 2006, has established 38 intellectual Property Technology Transfer Offices
(IPTTOs) in universities, polytechnics and research institutions in Nigeria to promote interaction and strengthen the linkage between university/research institutions and industries.

He added that Nigeria cannot fold its arms anymore, warning that Nigeria would remain a consumer nation unless there are human capacity development and transfer of technology.

Ibrahim said, “Unless we appreciate the power of intellectual property, we cannot move the nation forward. With the establishment of this office here, people can have access to information on the protection of their intellectual property. Any innovation that can transit into products in the society is protected”.

He stated further that the reason behind the establishments of IPTTOs in higher institutions is because technologies
are manufactured there. He expressed profound gratitude to the management of the University of Ilorin for their warm reception.

The Director General disclosed that NOTAP has saved the country over N88.2 billion of capital flight because it considers the legal, economic perspectives and human capacity development opportunities for Nigerians before approving technical support from the foreign counterparts.