From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
The Director General of the National Technology and Promotion, NOTAP, Dr. Oby Amadiobi said Nigeria must develop technical manpower that will attract foreign technology in various facets of socio economic activities to be able to address the current economic situation.
Dr. Amadiobi made this known at a press conference to commemorate the African day for technology and Intellectual Property Rights ( IPRs) held in Abuja.
She explained that the African technology day demonstrates the great importance which the black nations place on Science Technology and Innovation as an engine that drives development.
“Unless Nigeria develops the technical manpower to attract and domesticate foreign technology in various facets of socio- economic activities, it may be difficult for it to meet up with the challenges of unemployment, hunger, poverty, accelerated climate change, scarcity of resource, increased pressure on the environment, youth restiveness and insecurity” she noted.
She further stated that technology is used as a tool to enhance global competitiveness of any nation.
“With the increasing importance of knowledge as the main engine of growth in this digital era, the decision of, African Leaders to declare a day for the commemoration of the role of Technology and Intellectual Property in achieving sustainable development in African continent is a positive stride” Dr. Amadiobi
“I wish to stress that in today’s knowledge based economy and thriving global business environment; absorption of new technology has become a veritable component for companies to survive and increase their competitiveness in the market place”
She further added that in the present world no nation of the earth can develop without adequate deployment of indigenous science, technology and innovation.
“Nations are no longer valued in terms of their population, geographical landmass or mineral resources but on the organic mass of knowledge in its citizenry translated into viable R&D outputs, highly valuable IPRs and commercialized products”
She emphasized that the Federal government has, through NOTAP and the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, demonstrated its determination to promote indigenous technologies through the encouragement of the entrepreneurs, researchers and inventors in the protection of their intellectual property and make seamless the process for the acquisition of foreign technology”
‘I wish to state that the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology through all its agencies like NOTAP, is working assiduously in collaboration with other stakeholders to create relevant policies that motivate inventiveness to ensure rapid technological development of our country”
