The National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, have agreed to collaborate in promoting the commercialisation of research findings, indigenous innovation and technology transfer as part of efforts to boost Nigeria’s revenue and accelerate industrial development.

The Director-General of NOTAP, Dr. Obiageli Amadiobi, disclosed this in Abuja while receiving the leadership of the NUJ FCT Council, led by its Chairman, Comrade Grace Ike, during a courtesy visit to the agency’s headquarters.

Amadiobi said the partnership would help bridge the gap between research institutions, industry and investors by creating greater public awareness of innovation and the commercial potential of research outputs.

She announced that NOTAP would host a National Technology and Innovation Summit in Lagos on October 7 and 8, 2026, bringing together researchers, innovators, manufacturers, investors, financial institutions and the Bank of Industry to facilitate the commercialisation of research findings.

According to her, the summit will provide a platform for strategic matchmaking between researchers and investors, enabling innovative ideas developed in Nigerian universities and research institutions to attract funding, enter the market and contribute to economic growth.

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

The NOTAP boss stressed the importance of the media in driving technological advancement, noting that journalists have a critical role in shaping public understanding of science, technology and innovation.

She reiterated the agency’s commitment to domesticating and adapting foreign technologies to meet Nigeria’s developmental needs through local capacity development.

Amadiobi lamented that Nigeria had for decades depended heavily on imported technologies but said the agency’s Local Vendor Policy had begun to reverse the trend, particularly in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector.

She said the policy requires Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to invest in developing local talent, leading to the emergence of indigenous software developers and ICT professionals capable of competing globally.

According to her, NOTAP plans to replicate the success achieved in the ICT sector across manufacturing, engineering and other critical sectors through technology transfer, skills development and greater local participation.

She disclosed that the agency is establishing a technology and innovation hub where emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), will be demonstrated to make learning more practical and accessible.

Amadiobi added that NOTAP is partnering with leading technology firms, including Huawei, MTN and Airtel, to strengthen the capacity of its workforce and improve Nigeria’s ability to evaluate imported technologies.

On youth empowerment, she unveiled the National Outsourcing Value Acceleration (NOVA) Programme, designed to equip 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 noted that the initiative would help bridge the country’s skills gap while preparing young Nigerians for opportunities in the global labour market.

The Director-General also revealed that several state governments, including Niger State, had expressed interest in partnering with NOTAP to establish similar innovation centres.

Speaking, Chairman of the NUJ FCT Council, Comrade Grace Ike, described NOTAP as a strategic institution driving Nigeria’s technological advancement through technology acquisition, technology transfer, intellectual property protection and the promotion of indigenous innovation.

She said the media has a responsibility not only to report technological innovations but also to explain their relevance and connect them with the public.

Ike said the visit was aimed at establishing a mutually beneficial partnership with NOTAP in the areas of public enlightenment, innovation advocacy, capacity building and national development.

She also proposed regular training programmes for journalists covering science, technology and innovation to improve reporting on intellectual property rights, technology transfer, research commercialisation and innovation policies.

She advocated for joint public awareness campaigns on patents, intellectual property rights and technology transfer targeting researchers, inventors, startups and technology developers.