National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion(NOTAP) has opened its North-East zonal office at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi, on Monday.
NOTAP Director-General, Dr Dan’azumi Muhammed Ibrahim during the opening ceremony stressed the need for a strong partnership with higher institutions of learning for the overall economic development of the country through technology and innovation.
The Director said the National Office for TechnologyAcquisition and Promotion supervised by the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation was mandated to regulate the inflow of foreign technology into the Nigerian economy and develop appropriate means of adapting the acquired technology.
“I thank the ATBU management for providing office accommodation for the establishment of NOTAP North-East Zonal Office in Bauchi.
“The establishment of this offer is part of the mandate of NOTAP to encourage, and promote the development of technology in Nigeria.
“This will also encourage the utilization of knowledge and research by professionals which will translate into products and services for economic development,” the Director said.
He challenged researchers in the northeast sub-region to make good utilization of the office as the federal government has already demonstrated efforts to promote the application of science, technology and innovation within Nigeria.
Dr Dan’azumi Ibrahim said Executive Order 5 signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari is to improve local content in public procurement with science, engineering and technology components as a step towards achieving the nation’s developmental goal of improving all sectors of the economy.
The Director-General said under the law, NOTAP was directed to develop, maintain and regularly update an experts’ database which includes expertise in science, engineering, technology and other fields while the ministry of Interior shall take into consideration the NOTAP DataBase together with other similar data from relevant agencies in determining the availability of local skilled manpower in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) before the grant of Expatriate Quota.
Commenting, the Vice-Chancellor, Abubakar Tafawa BalewaUniversity Bauchi, Professor Muhammad Abdul’azeez who described the establishment of NOTAP North-East Zonal in his university as a welcome development, said it will contribute positively in assisting the institution to change its models of teaching and research.
“Currently, ATBU has signed MoU with critical institutions to achieve what we planned and with the commissioning of NOTAP North-East Zonal office here, our university will work on research that is relevant to the development and promotion of technology and innovation.”
Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State while speaking at the occasion, called for investment in the e-learning system of education for the future of the university system in the country.
Represented by the State Commissioner for Education, DrAliyu Tilde, said his administration had focused on technical education to ensure the advancement of science and technology in the state.
“I am highly delighted to attend this occasion, as part of an effort by my administration to advance technology, we have transferred all our technical colleges from the Ministry of Education to the Special SchoolManagement Board to ensure effective management.
“The importance of technology to the advancement of any critical sector of the nation’s economy cannot be overemphasized and thereforeATBU and other higher Institutions must develop sound technology initiatives to enable them to excel in e-learning system of education,” he said.
