‘Innovators, inventors, others are key drivers of Nigeria’s economic prosperity’

Director, National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) Dr. DanAzumi Mohammed Ibrahim has said innovators; inventors and researchers are the key drivers to Nigeria’s economic prosperity.

He said the development of the country rests on every Nigerian irrespective of tribe and language while urging Nigerians not to be under any illusion that somebody from another country or nation would come and develop Nigeria for us.

Ibrahim disclosed this at a one-day Stakeholders Forum on Promotion and Commercialisation of Research & Development Results, themed “Promoting Indigenous Inventions and Innovations for Economic Diversification and Sustainable Growth” organized by NOTAP on Tuesday in Abuja.

The DG added that the programme was intended to provide an opportunity or a forum for our indigenous innovators and inventors to interact with one another, to share experiences, and where it is possible to showcase some of their innovations for Nigerians to appreciate.

He maintained that the gap between developed and developing nations was the ability of the developed nations to spend heavily on research and developments, which he said makes research and development very vibrant and that resulted in the development of technologies to improve the quality of life of their citizens.

He said: “It is an opportunity for us as NOTAP to continue on our struggle to see how our innovations and inventions will eventually translate into products and services and that is what in our strong belief that would the catapult Nigeria into economic prosperity.

“Nigerian innovators and inventors now have a platform, they have come together, they have formed an association and I am happy to say that NOTAP would continue to give them the necessary assistance to realize their dreams.

“We should appreciate by the development of this country squarely rest on us all Nigerians; it should not be under any illusion that somebody from another sphere or somebody from another country will come and develop our own country.

“So, it squarely rest on us, we have responsibilities and since it is technologies that are ruling the world now, our inventors, innovators, and researchers must have to be encouraged because these are the drivers of the economy, these are the drivers of the businesses, these are the drivers of moving our country to economic prosperity.

“NOTAP decides to gather them and also give some kinds of training or workshop and make a few paper presentations that are key in translating research and development into products and services.”