NOTAP, NUJ FCT partner to commercialise research findings, boost Nigeria’s revenue

The National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) in collaboration has reaffirmed its readiness to commercialize academic research findings through strategic matchmaking and funding opportunities aimed at boosting Nigeria’s revenue and driving industrial development.

The Director-General of NOTAP, Dr. Obiageli Amadiobi made this known on Monday while receiving the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, during a courtesy visit to the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.

The visit was part of efforts to forge a strategic partnership to promote indigenous innovation, technology transfer and intellectual property awareness.

The NOTAP boss disclosed that the agency will host a National Technology and Innovation Summit at the Civic Centre, Lagos, on October 7 and 8, 2026.

According to her, the summit will bring together innovators, researchers, manufacturers, financial institutions, investors and the Bank of Industry to facilitate the commercialisation of research outputs.

She explained that the event would provide a platform for researchers to connect with investors and industry players through strategic matchmaking, enabling innovative ideas and technologies developed in Nigerian institutions to attract funding, reach the market and contribute to national economic growth.

She added that the initiative aligns with NOTAP’s mandate of promoting technology acquisition, encouraging indigenous innovation and ensuring that research findings are translated into commercially viable products and services capable of creating jobs, enhancing competitiveness and increasing national revenue.

She said journalists play a critical role in shaping public understanding of science, technology and innovation, noting that effective reporting would accelerate Nigeria’s technological advancement.

The NOTAP boss explained that one of the agency’s core mandates is the domestication and adaptation of foreign technologies to meet Nigeria’s developmental needs, stressing that this requires developing local expertise capable of understanding and improving imported technologies.

She lamented that Nigeria had for many years served as a dumping ground for foreign technologies because of inadequate local capacity but noted that NOTAP’s Local Vendor Policy has significantly changed the narrative, particularly in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector.

According to her, the policy compels Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to invest in local capacity development by training Nigerians, leading to the emergence of indigenous software developers and ICT professionals who are making remarkable contributions both within and outside the country.

The Director-General said the agency plans to replicate the success recorded in the ICT sector across manufacturing, engineering and other critical sectors of the economy through technology transfer, skills development and local participation.

The Director General disclosed that NOTAP is developing a technology and innovation hub designed to provide practical demonstrations of emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), to make learning more interactive and accessible.

She added that the agency is partnering with leading technology companies, including Huawei, MTN and Airtel, to build the capacity of its staff and strengthen Nigeria’s ability to evaluate imported technologies effectively.

On youth empowerment, the NOTAP chief unveiled the National Outsourcing Value Acceleration (NOVA) Programme, aimed at equipping young Nigerians with industry-relevant skills through simulation-based training before exposing them to practical field experience in sectors such as maritime, engineering and manufacturing.

She said the initiative would help bridge Nigeria’s skills gap while positioning young Nigerians for global employment opportunities.

The Director-General further revealed that several state governments, including Niger State, have already indicated interest in partnering with NOTAP to establish similar innovation centres in their respective states.

The Chairman of NUJ FCT Council, Comrade Grace Ike described NOTAP as a critical institution at the heart of Nigeria’s technological advancement, noting that its work in technology acquisition, technology transfer, intellectual property protection and the promotion of indigenous innovation is of strategic importance to the country’s economic growth.

“I believe the future of Nigeria depends on strong partnerships between institutions that inform, innovate and inspire. NOTAP stands at the very heart of Nigeria’s technological progress. Your work is not only important but strategic,” she said.

The Chairman disclosed that before the visit, she took time to study the agency’s activities and was impressed by its achievements in transforming Nigeria’s technology ecosystem.

“You are helping to shape a Nigeria that does not merely consume ideas but creates them. As journalists, we recognise that technology and communication are inseparable. The media has a responsibility not only to report innovation but to explain it, amplify it and connect it with the people,” she added.

The NUJ FCT Chairman said the visit was aimed at establishing a mutually beneficial partnership between the Council and NOTAP in the areas of public enlightenment, innovation advocacy, capacity building and national development.

According to her, the media can play a significant role in publicising NOTAP’s programmes, increasing public understanding of technology policies and promoting indigenous innovations.

She also proposed regular capacity-building programmes for journalists covering science, technology and innovation, saying such training would improve reporting on intellectual property, technology transfer, research commercialisation and innovation policies.

Comrade Ike further advocated joint public sensitisation campaigns on intellectual property rights, patents and technology transfer targeted at inventors, researchers, startups and technology developers.