In order to boost local content and promote economic sustainability in Nigeria, the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) will work with the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS).
Dr. DanAzumi Ibrahim, the DG NOTAP, spoke Friday in Abuja to a delegation from the academy that was headed by Prof. Ekanem Brande, the academy’s president.
Such strategic alliances, according to the DG, accelerated socioeconomic progress.
The visit, according to Ibrahim, was in accordance with the directives issued by President Muhammadu Buhari regarding the execution of Executive Order 5, which he signed into law in February 2018.
“The order was to ensure that all procuring authorities shall give preference to Nigerian companies and firms in award of contracts, in line with the Public Procurement Act 2007.
“The order prevents the Ministry of Interior from issuing expatriate visas to foreigners who intend to come to undertake jobs that Nigerians have the competencies and capacities to undertake,’’ he said.
Ibrahim continued by saying that Nigerian scientists and engineers were in a good position to benefit from the plan for the nation’s economic sustainability.
He said that NOTAP has started a number of initiatives that would help academy members, such as efforts to help Nigerian researchers patent their ideas and the outcomes of their R&D.
Ibrahim said: “Members of NAS are to submit claims of their inventions to NOTAP for assistance in patenting them free.’’
Brande stated earlier in her address that the academy was Nigeria’s top independent science organisation and that it was founded in 1977 but formed in 1986 to improve STI.
According to her, the academy collaborated closely with the Nigerian government to apply scientific knowledge to the country’s policies and strategic direction.
“The academy is also the third oldest academy on the African continent and a founding member of the Network of African Science academies (NASAC).
“The academy has a working relationship with academies across Africa and globally as well as other organizations and it had successfully implemented projects with many of them.
“As with national academies in other countries, NAS is a not-for-profit organization,’’ she said.
Brande complimented the DG for his presentation and added that NOTAP’s different efforts were in line with NAS guidelines.
