Director General, NOTAP, Dr. Dan’azumi Muhammad Ibrahim
By Akanji Alowolodu, Bauchi
The National Office of Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) has reiterated its resolve to ensure that Nigeria benefitted from any imported technology to be able to develop same for its use.
The assertion was made on Monday by the Director General of NOTAP, Dr. Dan’azumi Muhammad Ibrahim during the commissioning of its North-East Zonal Office of the Agency in Bauchi stressing that efforts are on to ensure that only relevant technology for development came into the country.
The DG said that as the regulatory body on technology acquisition and promotion, NOTAP has over the years ensured that indigenous transfer of technology was a huge success stressing that Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind in the technology advancement.
He added that, “As an agency, we ensure that any organization that is bringing in foreign technology pays to ensure that government generate revenue. We also ensure that at least one Nigerian was engaged by the foreign partner to be trained in the system for development internally”.
He said that, “if you look at the huge sum of money the technical partner is committing to the program viz-a-viz the type of technology coming in, if think that Nigeria is to be surcharged, we will come in as an agency to ensure that the right thing was done”.
Dan’azumi Ibrahim declared that NOTAP is collaborating with Nigerian Universities to ensure that technology was developed to enable the country compete other advanced technologies of the world stressing that technology is the best form of development the world over now.
He then explained that the Agency decided to open Zonal offices in the six geopolitical zones of the country for easy administration and monitoring of technology advancement across the country saying that with the development, it not every aspect that must be done in Abuja.
The DG NOTAP then commended the management of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, (ATBU), Bauchi for its collaboration and support saying that, “We have enjoyed a cordial relationship with the ATBU over the years, our collection has yielded many positivity in the development of technology”.
“The ATBU has given us a temporary office accommodation and we are grateful for that, the collaboration with be further strengthened and more positive impact will be felt by the Universities in the Zone”.
While Commissioning the Zonal office, Bauchi State Governor, Sen Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir said that the state is Prioritizing technology development as it has upgraded a few technical colleges it has.
The Governor who was represented by the Commissioner of Education, Dr Aliyu Usman Tilde said that the two Technical Colleges have been transferred to the Special Schools Board for effective management because according to him, the present management under the Ministry has not yielded positive results.
The Governor commended NOTAP for siting the Zonal Office in Bauchi state assuring that his administration will ensure that the zonal office was fully utilized through collaboration and synergy.
Speaking earlier, the Vice Chancellor of ATBU, Prof Muhammad Abdul’azeez commended NOTAP for the collaboration over the years which he said has further brought to limelight the technology capacity of ATBU through the various activities embarked upon.
He said that NOTAP has really done well in the area of promotion and monitoring technology development in the country saying that without such function by NOTAP, unwanted technology will have crept into the country.
The VC assured that the University will continue to collaborate with NOTAP and other relevant agencies in the promotion of technology for the development of the country.
