By Mercy Adi
National Board for Technology Incubation(NBTI) Federal lawmakers and CSO’s were amongst the supporters of the bill to establish a National Commission for Technology Transfer, Acquisition Promotion, and related matters. The bill sponsored by honorable Clement Jimbo, which has scaled through second reading, aims to promote technological development and economic growth in Nigeria.
Hon. Jimbo said that, the proposed commission seeks to leverage Nigeria’s large population and active workforce to attract technology that can aid in developing the country’s solid minerals, thereby adding value to raw materials. This initiative also aims to create massive employment opportunities, increase the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and transfer technology to Nigeria.
Speaking during the public hearing on the bill at the National Assembly complex, The National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) had expressed concerns that the new commission would subsume its current responsibilities.
However, during a media chat with journalists, after the hearing, Hon. Jimbo clarified that the commission’s establishment will not lead to job losses or reduced salaries for NOTAP staff. Instead, it will enhance their mandate to include technology transfer.
“If that bill is passed into law,It will automatically repeal the NOTAP act 2004 to give way completely for the establishment of National Commission for technology transfer with an additional robust responsibility, which is basically to leverage on our huge population and active population, to attract what we do not have in terms of technology which we need to develop our solid mineral, Which is basically to add value to our raw materials”
“So if anybody thinks that with the creation of the National Commission is going to take food from his mouth, it’s wrong. It’s not coming to fight anybody. The same people are going to be there, the same offices, the same salary, but with a renewed mandate”, he added
Jimbo also explained that, the approach is modeled after China’s successful strategy of protecting its economy from foreign technologies without local participation. “Just like China, where Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, and TikTok are not operational, Nigeria seeks to achieve similar protection for its economy”.
The lawmaker further highlighted that the establishment of the National Commission for Technology Transfer will, enhance local technological capabilities, promote indigenous innovation, encourage research and development, increase GDP through added value to raw materials, and create massive employment opportunities.
The proposed National Commission for Technology Transfer is a crucial step towards achieving Nigeria’s economic development goals. With its focus on technology transfer, acquisition promotion, and related matters, the commission is poised to drive growth, create jobs, and increase the country’s competitiveness in the global market.