E-Business
NOTAP Commits to Strengthen Implementation of NITTF Scheme
The National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) has commenced a regional stakeholder’s forum to put machineries in place to strengthen the implementation of the NOTAP-Industry Technology Transfer Fellowship (NITTF) scheme for efficient and speedy technology development of the Country. The process of strengthening includes review of Bond (agreement) with the stakeholders and implementation guidelines.
Speaking at a one day interactive meeting with key stakeholders of the scheme made up of the beneficiaries, their supervisors as well as the sponsoring companies at Kano for the Northern region, the Director General of NOTAP, Dr DanAzumi Mohammed Ibrahim said that there was need to look into the existing agreements signed between the Office and beneficiaries of the NITTF program with the view to making some amendments to reflect the experiences gained from the inception of the scheme in 2015.
The DG noted that in carrying out one of its statutory mandates, NOTAP discovered a huge gap between the academia and the industry especially in linking Research and Development (R&D) results to the manufacturing sector of the economy.
He stated that in order to address the weakness and bridge the gap in the process of acquiring and adopting foreign technologies in Nigeria, NOTAP initiated a programme known as NOTAP-Industry Technology Transfer Fellowship (NITTF).
Dr. Ibrahim stated that based on some noticeable lapses in the agreement as well as the implementation guidelines, there was need to review the documents to address the challenges and reflect current realities, all the stakeholders will adhere strictly.
He added that the beneficiaries of the NITTF scheme under the agreements were to furnish the Office with quarterly reports of their progress and challenges but in most cases, they wait for the Office to demand for that before they send their report.
He also noted that as part of the agreement, the sponsoring companies are supposed to allow the beneficiaries to undertake industrial visit to their facilities for practical experience.
The NOTAP Boss further stated that the scheme was for three to four years sponsorship but according to him, some candidates were able to graduate within the stipulated time while others have spent over seven years, hence the need for the interactive meeting to ascertain what the challenges are and proffer solution where applicable.
Also while declaring open the Southern region NITTF stakeholders forum held in Lagos recently, the Director General who was represented by the Director Consultancy Services of NOTAP, Dr. Adamu Tandama noted that the Office was established to regulate the inflow of foreign technology into the Country through the Registration of Technology Transfer Agreements and at the same time promote the development of indigenous technologies.
He added that the Office carries out the registration of technology transfer agreements after evaluating the agreements under three major perspectives; economic, legal and technical perspectives.
The DG stated that sometimes agreements are drafted abroad by the foreign technical partners without recourse to the laws of our Country and when such infractions are noticed during evaluations, such agreements are usually not registered.
He further noted that some agreements are drafted without taking cognisance of the need for capacity building in the technology transfer components to ensure the development of skilled critical mass for socio-economic development of the Country.
He said that the NITTF scheme was an initiative designed to develop the technical competencies of young and talented Nigerians with master’s degree but have unwavering interest in academia to pursue their doctorate degrees in any field of choice by the sponsoring company.
He added that multinational companies usually embark on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by building schools and digging boreholes for their host Communities which according to him is good but could be better by building capacity of the citizens, hence the introduction of NITTF for manpower development.
The Director General encouraged the beneficiaries and other Nigerian researchers to first file for patenting of their inventions before publishing their R&D results in any international journal as according to him, any research finding that is published before filing for patent is already in the public domain and can be exploited by anybody.
He encouraged more companies to show interest in the scheme so that some of their challenges which hitherto were referred to their mother companies abroad can be solved within the country at quicker and cheaper rates. The NITTF stakeholder’s fora for North and South achieved the set out objectives as areas for improvement have been identified.
National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) of Nigeria has launched a new digital identity verification tool called the NIN Authentication (NINAuth) application.
The initiative, which forms part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aims to strengthen the country’s national digital identity management framework.
The launch builds upon Nigeria’s comprehensive unified digital identity system that has been transforming access to financial services and government programs.
The NINAuth application introduces several key features focused on data security and privacy.
The platform requires explicit user consent before sharing identity information for Know Your Customer (KYC) processes, giving individuals greater control over their personal data.
The system provides seamless access to various government services, including SIM card registration, immigration applications, passport processing, tax filings, and financial transactions.
The development follows significant investment in Nigeria’s digital identity infrastructure, including a $45.5 million support from the World Bank as part of the Digital Identification for Development (ID4D) project.
As the official service for integration with NIMC’s backend infrastructure, NINAuth enables secure verification processes across ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).
The application is available for download on both the Google Play Store and Apple iOS App Store for users of the National Identification Number (NIN).
The rollout represents a significant milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to digitize government services and strengthen identity verification processes.
“NINAuth is a cutting-edge suite of services including web, API, and mobile verification designed to enhance data security, protect privacy, and simplify access to government services,” said Dr. Kayode Adegoke, Head of Corporate Communications at NIMC.
“The platform introduces a robust layer of protection, empowering individuals with greater control over their personal information.”
The implementation supports the objectives of the recently established Nigeria Digital Identification for Development Project Ecosystem Steering Committee, which oversees the country’s digital identity initiatives.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the launch of the NINAuth app and directed its use for verification and authentication across all MDAs.
The application provides a secure single sign-on solution for accessing government services and social protection programs while maintaining strict data privacy controls.
The centralized approach to digital identity management represents a significant step forward in Nigeria’s digital transformation journey and its commitment to modernizing government services.
Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has set in motion a machinery to checkmate the booming copyright piracy market in the country.
Copyright piracy is said to cost Nigeria an annual loss estimated at billions of naira.
Despite the absence of a coordinated or official statistics to gauge the quantum of loss, John Asein, director general, NCC, said as far back as 2019, Nigeria lost N918 trillion ($3 billion) annually to digital piracy.
The financial damages severely impact local businesses and innovation efforts.
The commission, in collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), has started a project to develop strategies and tools to address the menace.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting on the WIPO project to address online copyright piracy in Nigeria, Asein said digital technologies have unlocked tremendous opportunities for the creative and innovation sectors.
The NCC boss said technology also poses serious challenges, including online piracy, which he said is growing rapidly.
He said: “Pirate sites continue to emerge rapidly, with statistics indicating a 6.7 per cent increase in user visits. A significant percentage of these users are students aged between 18 and 24, with social media and messaging platforms becoming major gateways for accessing pirated content.”
He added: “No industry is immune. The most affected sectors include television (43.6 per cent), publishing (27.5 per cent), film (12.9 per cent), music (7.0 per cent), and software (6.2 per cent).
“Far beyond mere statistics, the victims are no longer only foreign right owners. Many Nigerians in these sectors have also been bruised and their creative enterprises ruined.”
Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) has signed an international mail partnership with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines for improved delivery access to over 200 countries without middlemen.
Tolani Odeyemi, postmaster-general and chief executive officer of NIPOST, described the deal as a “major milestone” for the country’s logistics and postal sector.
In a statement on X on Monday, Odeyemi explained that the new agreement marks NIPOST’s first direct international airline partnership for several years.
“For a long time, NIPOST operated without any direct partnerships with international airlines, relying heavily on multiple third-party handlers,” the Postmaster-General stated. This often resulted in delays, higher costs, and uncertainty around the delivery of packages.”
She explained that under the new arrangement, KLM will directly handle all outbound international mail from Nigeria, eliminating the need for intermediaries.
“This translates to faster and more reliable delivery, reduced risk of loss or damage, lower handling charges, and access to over 200 countries through KLM’s global network,” the Postmaster-General stressed.
According to Odeyemi, NIPOST’s breakthrough came after it began settling long-standing debts owed to international carriers, a step she said was key to “rebuilding global trust” in Nigeria’s postal system.
She revealed that talks were also ongoing with Ethiopian Airlines to bolster regional and continental logistics, particularly on African and Eastern routes.
“Our goal is clear and unwavering: to connect Nigeria regionally and globally, efficiently, securely, and affordably,” Odeyemi asserted.
The NIPOST CEO described the development as a significant win for Nigerian businesses and small and medium-scale enterprises that rely on international shipping, stating, “You now benefit from quicker, more affordable international shipping, greater peace of mind with improved reliability, and new potential to reach and grow in global markets.”
Odeyemi commended the teams behind the scenes and pledged continued improvements in service delivery, adding that the deal signals a turning point for the agency.
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