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By Chiemeka Ugwowo, Abuja
NOTAP, NUJ FCT Join Forces to Drive Innovation, Commercialise Nigerian Research
The National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, have moved to strengthen collaboration aimed at transforming Nigerian research breakthroughs into commercially viable products and services.
The partnership was unveiled when the Director-General of NOTAP, Dr. Obiageli Amadiobi, received the NUJ FCT Council leadership during a courtesy visit to the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
Amadiobi said the collaboration would help promote indigenous innovation, technology transfer, intellectual property awareness and create stronger links between researchers, investors and industries.
She announced that NOTAP would host the National Technology and Innovation Summit on October 7 and 8, 2026, at the Civic Centre, Lagos, where innovators, researchers, manufacturers, investors, financial institutions and the Bank of Industry will converge to explore opportunities for commercialising research outputs.
According to her, the summit will provide a platform for strategic matchmaking, enabling Nigerian researchers to attract funding, connect with industry players and transform ideas developed in universities and research institutions into products that can contribute to economic growth.
The NOTAP boss said the agency remains committed to ensuring that Nigeria moves from a technology-consuming nation to one that develops, adapts and exports innovative solutions.
She explained that NOTAP’s Local Vendor Policy has already recorded significant success in the ICT sector by compelling Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to build local capacity through training and knowledge transfer.
Amadiobi said the agency would replicate the achievement across manufacturing, engineering and other sectors by promoting skills development and local participation.
She also disclosed plans to establish a technology and innovation hub where emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), would be demonstrated to enhance learning, research and practical application.
The Director-General added that NOTAP is collaborating with major technology companies, including Huawei, MTN and Airtel, to strengthen staff capacity and improve Nigeria’s ability to evaluate and manage imported technologies.
On youth empowerment, she introduced the National Outsourcing Value Acceleration (NOVA) Programme, designed to equip young Nigerians with relevant industry skills through simulation-based training and practical exposure in sectors such as maritime, engineering and manufacturing.
She noted that the programme would help bridge the skills gap and prepare Nigerian youths for opportunities in the global economy.
Responding, Chairman of NUJ FCT Council, Comrade Grace Ike, described NOTAP as a strategic institution responsible for driving Nigeria’s technological advancement.
Ike commended the agency’s role in promoting technology acquisition, intellectual property protection and indigenous innovation, noting that its activities are crucial to Nigeria’s economic transformation.
“NOTAP stands at the very heart of Nigeria’s technological progress. Your work is not only important but strategic,” she said.
She said the media has a responsibility to go beyond reporting innovations by explaining their relevance, promoting public awareness and connecting citizens with opportunities created by technology.
The NUJ FCT Chairman pledged the Council’s commitment to partnering with NOTAP through public enlightenment campaigns, innovation advocacy and capacity-building programmes for journalists covering science, technology and innovation.
She also called for regular training of journalists on intellectual property rights, patents, technology transfer and research commercialisation to improve the quality of technology reporting in Nigeria.
The partnership is expected to strengthen collaboration between government agencies, researchers, industries and the media in building a knowledge-driven economy and positioning Nigeria as a hub for innovation in Africa.
