Dr DanAzumi Ibrahim, Director-General (D-G), National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), has said 98 per cent of the NOTAP mandate has been achieved during his tenure.
He stated this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Abuja (NAN) as he bowed out after eight years of leading NOTAP.
NAN reports that Ibrahim was appointed as DG/CEO of NOTAP in Oct. 2015 by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Ibrahim is an Agricultural technology expert who hails from Bauchi State.
NOTAP is responsible for monitoring, regulating, facilitating and domesticating the inflow of foreign technology in Nigeria.
The DG said NOTAP was able to secure 320 patent certificates for inventors and researchers of tertiary and research institutes and individuals from 2010 to date.
He encouraged African researchers to strive for patentable research and development (R&D) results that can attract investments and subsequently license them for commercialization and economic benefits.
Ibrahim said for any nation to develop and maximize its potential, it must have a vibrant Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) ecosystem that encourages demand-driven research for economic sustenance.
“NOTAP, while discharging one of its responsibilities of encouraging the development of indigenous technologies, noted the weak Intellectual Property culture in the Nigerian knowledge system.
“This observation encouraged NOTAP to partner with the Patent and Design Registry and Commercial Law departments of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.
“The synergy with the departments helped create intellectual property awareness and patent support services for Nigerian researchers in the country.
“Through this, NOTAP assisted in processing and filing their claims at no cost, as the office paid the patenting fees,” he said.
Dr Ibrahim revealed that the agency’s policies aim to foster collaboration between industries and universities to enhance productivity and stimulate Nigeria’s economic growth.
He took the opportunity to call on other industries to join in such partnerships, emphasizing their positive impact on universities and research institutions.
“NOTAP has fostered partnerships with industries via NOTAP- industry partnership, all aimed at improving Nigeria’s economic development.”
“These partnerships are initiatives for building capacity, including instances where the private sector sponsors research and development projects in universities and intervenes before intellectual property translates into commercial products and services,” he said.
He added that NOTAP saved the country about N140 billion through technology transfer agreements between 2012 and 2022.
According to him, “the accumulated sum of N74.3 billion was saved in the last nine years that would have left the country via capital flight from 2015 to 2022 under his leadership.”
NAN reports that last week, NOTAP commissioned an office complex of 60 smart offices, fully automating its technology transfer agreements processes.
NOTAP also recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with PZ Cussons Nigeria Limited to equip an additional ten laboratories in selected institutions across Nigeria.