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Capacity building key to National Development – NOTAP

By on January 4, 2013

Understanding the role of Innovation, Science and Technology to the development and transformation of economies, the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) had stressed on the need to encourage capacity building, since it is key to unlocking the business potentials of the Nation.

From left : Director General of NOTAP Dr Umar Bindir

This was the resolve made at a recent workshop organized by the Agency for Journalists that report on the technology and innovation sector in the country. The Capacity building forum was designed to equip participants with more techniques and skills in reporting.

The Agency by its creation, has the task of developing, encouraging and creating platforms for the growth of technology and innovation in the country, especially in the areas of software development, cloning of products, breakthrough discoveries, developing patents for the mobile gadget industry, auto—mechanical innovations etc.

At the workshop, the Director General of NOTAP Dr Umar Bindir stated that with strategic training provided for the media on technology and innovation sector, publicity and sensitization on the value and relevance of the sector will improve in the Nation.

Speaking further he said “The Nigerian public has been critical of the existence of science and technology institutions. Nations like Malaysia, China, Korea and India have used the instruments of science and technology to advance into the first world, and science and technology institutions like NOTAP have brilliant development programmes, which the public needs to be well informed about.”

He said that for Nigeria to achieve the dream of becoming a competitive Nation in the globe, it must take the agenda of developing the necessary Infrastructure for the growth of the sector seriously. He also stressed that conscious effort must be made by the Media to showcase activities of corporations, agencies and organizations that are science, technology, and innovation inclined.

Also in his opening address at the occasion, the Permanent Secretary ,Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Rabi Shuaibu Jimeta, applauded the efforts of NOTAP, saying that the workshop was timely and relevant, considering the role and impact the media plays in educating and informing the public.

She was happy that there was an ongoing partnership between the NOTAP agency and the Media, and was optimistic that the relationship will boost and harness the untapped potentials in the sector, as such collaborations will lead to proper documentation of Science and Technology programmes as well as other initiatives and projects in the country.