By Dwelleth Morountodun
The National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) has recognized PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Nigeria Bottling Company Plc, Airtel Nigeria Plc, Nigeria Breweries Plc, Friesland Campina WAMCO Nigeria Plc, Dufil Prima Food Plc, Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Procter and Gamble Nigeria Plc, Chemical and Allied Products (CAP) Plc for keying into NOTAP-Industry Technology Transfer Fellowship (NITTF) and sponsoring Nigerians in undertaking PhD programmes.
Speaking during the event held at the Colussus Hotel Ikeja, Lagos State recently, the Director General of NOTAP, Dr. DanAzumi Ibrahim said in order to boost human capital development, the NITTF programme was initiated by his Office in 2015.
The DG said that the Office was established to regulate the inflow of foreign technology into the Country through the registration of Technology Transfer Agreement but also have the responsibility of promoting the development of indigenous technologies.
He noted that in carrying out one of its statutory mandates, NOTAP discovered a huge gap between the academia and the industry especially in linking Research and Development (R&D) results to the manufacturing sector of the economy, hence the need to bridge the gap through NITTF programme.
The DG stated that in order to address the weakness and bridge the gap in the process of acquiring and adopting foreign technologies in Nigeria, NOTAP initiated some programme one of which is the NOTAP-Industry Technology Transfer Fellowship (NITTF).
Ibrahim, further stated that the reasons for the recognition were to appreciate the companies for sponsoring Nigerians to acquire higher degrees and skills, as well to seek their sustenance of the programme.
The DG, revealed that though the programme has impacted on many Nigerians, it also has some challenges which according to him, were; absence of Industry Research Guide, Frequent ASUU Strike, Non-commercialization of Research and Development (R&D) results emanating from the NITTF as well as decline in sponsorship/sponsors.
The DG on behalf of the entire Management of the Office expressed appreciation to the sponsoring companies for their magnanimity and encouraged those that are yet to be part of the sponsorship to do so, adding that the programme is designed to benefit both the beneficiaries and sponsors.
On their part, a representative of the sponsoring companies expressed their happiness over the recognition by NOTAP as well as the resilience of the Office in ensuring the success of the programme. They promised to not only sustain the programme, but to also assist in popularizing the NITTF scheme among their respective industry sector groups.
They also requested NOTAP to reach out to the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and various industry sector groups for more awareness as well as to increase the publicity of the programme to attract more companies to join the programme.
Signed: Raymond Onyenezi Ogbu (Media Dept).
