NOTAP advocates Private sector-based support for R&D.
By Abubakar Baba Ahmad
The National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion NOTAP has called on the Private sector to support the academia in the transfer of knowledge and Innovations into products and services for economic prosperity of the country.
The Director General of NOTAP Dr Danazumi Ibrahim made the call during the opening of its North East Zonal office at the School of Postgraduate Studies building Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University ATBU Bauchi.
Dr Danazumi Ibrahim said any research and development without transfer into products and services has zero or no value, hence the need for the country to use its human resources towards harnessing the abundant natural resources.
He said the organisation has succeeded in bringing the private sector to collaborate with the academia through research and development sponsorship as well as technology incubation and about twenty one candidates have so far benefitted.
In a remark, Governor Bala Muhammad of Bauchi State said due to affordability and quality, academic institutions globally have shifted to e-learning mode of study, hence the need for universities across the country to invest in that area.
Represented by the Commissioner of Education Dr Aliyu Tilde, the Governor noted that his administration is focusing more on technical education, and the siting of NOTAP in ATBU would facilitate innovation and adoption of technology.
The Vice Chancellor ATBU Bauchi Professor Muhammadu Ahmad Abdulazeez who expressed gratitude for the establishment of the northeast office, promised to utilise the facility for economic diversification through agricultural innovation and incubation.
Professor Muhammadu Abdulazeez said the university has signed MOU with five organisations towards the finding lasting solutions to the challenges facing the country.
In seperate remarks, the Director Research, Innovation and Development ATBU Professor Fatima Sawa and Director Corporate Planning NOTAP Mrs Idy Imiyoho said the need to have researches that are uptaken and can be commercialised,was what informed the decision to establish the office, thanked stakeholders for their efforts.
The event was attended by some heads of tertiary institutions from the northeast and agencies under the federal ministry of science and technology among others.
