By Seun Adams
In tandem with Federal Government’s roadmap in promoting Science Technology and Innovation (STI) education in the country, the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) has commissioned a State-of-the-Art Chemistry laboratory equipment and chemicals to Government Science Secondary School, Uke, Nassarawa State.
Speaking during the Commissioning ceremony, the Director General and CEO of NOTAP, Dr. DanAzumi Ibrahim, said the project was initiated by the Office to ensure that basic practical science and technology are taught in secondary schools.
This he added is in a bid to catch them young.
He reiterated that no nation develops without the instrumentalities of STI, hence the urgent need to equip as many science secondary schools with modern lab equipment to facilitate practical teaching and learning at young age.
He added that major educational foundation is laid at the secondary school and when a child misses the basic rudiments of science in secondary schools, then it becomes difficult to adopt.
Ibrahim, informed that Office was established to regulate the inflow of foreign technology into the country but also has the responsibility to encourage and promote the development of locally motivated technologies.
He added that as a regulatory establishment, the Office observed a gap between the academia and the industry and for a country that is desirous of becoming a major player in global technology market place, such situation was unacceptable and needed to be urgently addressed.
The NOTAP boss, noted that in order to bridge the gap between the academia and industry, the Office in collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in 2006 midwifed the establishment of Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Offices (IPTTO) in some Nigerian knowledge institutions.
He noted that the idea was to ensure that Nigerian researchers focused more on demand driven research rather than engaging in conventional research for the purposes of career progression.
The DG stated that prior to the establishment of IPTTOs in Nigerian knowledge institutions, the culture of Intellectual Property was weak. He said that it is the intention of the Office to extend the project of Chemical Laboratory upgrade to many secondary schools across the geo-political zones of the Country subject to availability of funds.
He called for more budgetary allocation to NOTAP to ensure that its numerous impactful projects are implemented.
He also called on State governments as well as private establishments to support the project of equipping Nigerian secondary schools with model laboratory equipment to ensure the growth of Science, Technology and Innovation in our Country.
In her good will message, the Commissioner of Education, Nassarawa State, Hajia Fati Jimeta represented by Mallam Abubakar Kana, the Director of schools in the Ministry, expressed appreciation to NOTAP for donating such educational facilities to the school.
She said the Governor Engr. Sule Abdullahi, is enthusiastic about Science and Technology education and has been encouraging schools to ensure that students perform well in Science related subjects.
She stated that the impact of NOTAP’s intervention will sooner or later be felt throughout the State as other neighboring schools may be at liberty to utilize the chemical apparatus and equipment supplied, by NOTAP.
The Commissioner also urged NOTAP to continue the good work to ensure that other government facilities are located in the school as well as other secondary schools across the Country.
Earlier in his address, the Principal of the school, Mr. Musa Dalhatu Hassan, who was visibly joyous expressed delight for the gesture of government through NOTAP.
He said that he had worked in many schools within the State but hasn’t seen this kind of gesture from government establishment. He prayed for more wisdom to the management of NOTAP to undertake more projects.
Signed: Raymond Onyenezi Ogbu, for Media/Corporate Communication Department.
