NOTAP Calls on African Nations to Elevate Science, Technology, and Innovation for Sustainable Development

The National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) has urged African nations to place Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) at the core of their development agendas. This call was made by Mr Raymond Onyenezi Ogbu, NOTAP’s Public Relations and Protocol Officer, in a statement commemorating the 2026 Africa Day for Technology and Intellectual Property Rights.

Mr Ogbu highlighted that in the 21st century, knowledge has become the principal engine of growth. He welcomed African leaders’ decision to dedicate a day to recognize the vital role of technology and intellectual property in advancing sustainable development across the continent. However, he stressed that this declaration must be matched with concrete actions to drive Africa’s progress.

“In today’s knowledge-based economy and global business environment, the absorption of new technology has become essential for companies to survive and maintain competitive positions. Technology is a key tool for enhancing national competitiveness for nation-states,” Mr Ogbu said.

He further noted that a nation’s value is no longer measured solely by population size, geography, or natural resources but by the critical mass of knowledge within its citizens. Consequently, no country can achieve meaningful development without adequately developing and deploying science, technology, and innovation.

As the agency responsible for promoting the inventive and innovative spirit of Nigerians, NOTAP has, on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, consistently commemorated Africa Day to educate children on the importance of intellectual property rights (IPR) in nation-building.

Mr Ogbu emphasized the imperative of leveraging technology and IPR to advance all sectors of the economy. “Nigeria cannot make meaningful progress without encouraging innovators and inventors to protect their intellectual works and harness them for economic development,” he said.

He also pointed out that Nigeria must develop technical manpower capable of adapting and domesticating foreign technologies to address challenges such as unemployment, poverty, wealth creation, and youth restiveness.

“NOTAP is working assiduously in collaboration with sister agencies to ensure accelerated technology development in the country,” he added.

The Nigerian government’s commitment to promoting and acquiring technology is demonstrated through the establishment of NOTAP under the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology. This includes encouraging entrepreneurs, researchers, and inventors to protect their intellectual property.

Among the structures put in place are 69 Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Offices (IPTTOs) located in selected Nigerian universities, polytechnics, and research institutions nationwide.

Mr Ogbu also highlighted several initiatives, including the NOTAP-Industry Technology Transfer Fellowship (NITTF), the NOTAP-Industry Research Laboratory Upgrade (NIRLUP), the Technology Story Board (TSB) initiative, and Project NOVA—a technology hub project aimed at developing, scaling, and outsourcing the expertise of Nigerian youths across various economic sectors.

“These initiatives are designed to ensure that technologies are not only developed and domesticated in Nigeria but also outsourced to other countries in need, thereby generating revenue, similar to experiences in developed countries,” he explained.

The interactive component of this year’s Africa Day commemoration will feature engagement with inventors, innovators, and researchers as a key aspect of the 2026 National Technology and Innovation Summit (NTIS 2.0), scheduled for October 7-8, 2026, in Ikeja, Lagos.

Mr Ogbu remarked that countries with notable achievements in science and technology began with incremental steps. He pointed to the quality of prototypes exhibited by Nigerian youths, inventors, researchers, and innovators at previous Africa Day celebrations as evidence of Nigeria’s growing capabilities.

He expressed confidence that Nigeria will soon join the ranks of industrialized nations, provided there is sustained support through adequate budgetary allocations to NOTAP and the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology to encourage further development of inventions.

Africa Day for Technology and Intellectual Property Rights is observed annually on September 13 across African states to celebrate the continent’s advancements in these critical areas.