The National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) has successfully hosted its maiden edition of the Technology and Innovation Summit with the theme, “Harnessing the R&D and Innovation Potentials of the Nigerian Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Ecosystem.”
Declaring the summit open, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, Mrs. Esuabana Nko-Asanye, said that the growth and economic sustainability of any nation largely depend on the level of technological advancement of such a country. She commended NOTAP for being at the forefront of technology development in the country through its various developmental programs.
Mrs. Esuabana noted that the summit was a gathering of industry leaders, academicians, innovators, and policymakers to drive technological advancement and economic growth in Nigeria. She said that the summit would offer an exciting platform for showcasing cutting-edge technologies, sharing knowledge, and networking opportunities among participants to encourage critical skills acquisition for economic prosperity.
The Permanent Secretary further stated that Nigerians are talented and resilient enough to develop technologies that are needed in the country to avoid over-dependence on foreign technologies. She added that with the lofty programs and projects of NOTAP, Nigeria would soon be a major player in the global technology and innovation space.
According to the Permanent Secretary, participants would have the opportunity to engage with exhibitors, thought leaders, and peers, gaining valuable insights into the latest trends and innovations shaping the future. She also used the platform to officially launch the NOTAP flagship project, Nigerian Outsourcing Value Acceleration (Project NOVA), which aims to bring industry experts, academia, and technology-savvy Nigerians under one roof to groom them to become technology experts for the benefit of the country and for outsourcing purposes.
The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NOTAP, Dr. Obiageli Amadiobi, expressed delight in the execution of the program, which, according to her, was conceived just a few months ago. She stated that NOTAP was established not only to regulate the inflow of foreign technology into the country but also to encourage the efficient development and domestication of locally motivated technologies.
The DG noted that no nation successfully develops without deliberate efforts at developing the critical skilled manpower that will serve as tools for the techno-economic advancement of the country. She added that the organization of the Technology and Innovation Summit was to create a platform for the conglomeration of experts in the industry, academia, and research community to share ideas on how best to develop the STI ecosystem for the economic development of the country.
Dr. Amadiobi expressed excitement about the number of participants at the summit, saying, “This event underscores our commitment to fostering a culture of innovation in Nigeria.” She emphasized that the Technology and Innovation Summit was a key initiative of NOTAP, aimed at promoting technology transfer, acquisition, and development in Nigeria, adding that the event would meet its expectations, having attracted a wide range of participants from all walks of life, including entrepreneurs, researchers, investors, and government officials.
The DG further expressed joy at the launch of Project NOVA, a project that is dear to her. She noted that Nigeria would soon witness the outsourcing of critical talents occasioned by the number of skills that would be churned out through the implementation of Project NOVA.
According to the keynote presenter, Professor Bankole Sodipo, SAN, Intellectual Property Protection is key to the technology advancement of any nation. He added that when you have an invention that is not protected under the IP Law, it could be infringed up.
He called on University authorities to prioritize IP in the assessment of researchers for promotion and career progression. Participants made various developmental suggestions during various breakout sessions.
Raymond Onyenezi Ogbu
