By Eunice Orike
Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has commended the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) for its efforts in improving technical teaching and learning in Nigerian secondary schools.
Nnaji made this known at at the commissioning ceremony of chemistry laboratory equipment and chemicals donated to Akpugo High School, Akpugo, Nkanu-West Local Government of Enugu State, by NOTAP.
The Minister said NOTAP as a regulatory body understands the importance of sound technical education to the development of Science, Technology and Innovation, hence the upgrading of Chemistry Laboratories of Secondary Schools across the 6 geopolitical zones of the country.
He reiterated that NOTAP was established decades ago to regulate the inflow of foreign technologies through the registration Technology Transfer Agreements but also have the duty to encourage the development and domestication of indigenous technologies.
According to him, NOTAP over the years, observed lack of interest in science and technology related subjects by the Nigerian students stressing that for a nation to be competitive in technology global arena, there must be solid technical and practical education foundation to groom the critical skilled manpower for sustainable development.
The minister noted that NOTAP’s initiative is a strategic step towards promoting sound technical education, which is essential for Nigeria’s development. He emphasized that no nation can develop without investing heavily in science, technology, and innovation (STI).
He added that it was on the premise of the importance of STI that NOTAP thought it imperative to equip some Nigerian Secondary Schools with State-of-the-art laboratory equipment.
He advocated that Science education foundation must be laid at the secondary school level, noting that when a child misses the basic rudiments of Science in Secondary school, it will be extremely difficult for the child to cope in science related courses.
Nnaji congratulated NOTAP for being strategic in revamping the Nigerian educational sector through its impactful programs and projects. He promised continued support to the office in actualizing its mandate.
The Director General/CEO of NOTAP, Dr. Obiageli Amadiobi, explained that the project aims to provide basic practical science and technology education to Nigerian students.
She noted that the commissioning of the Akpugo High School laboratory marks the eighth upgraded secondary school in Nigeria. Amadiobi acknowledged that as a regulatory agency, NOTAP observed that the country is overly dependent on foreign technologies, which is unacceptable for a nation that is desirous of being one of the top 20 economies in the world.
She emphasised the urgent need to equip the nation’s educational infrastructure at the secondary school level with state-of-the-art laboratory equipment to facilitate practical teaching and learning. The Enugu State Commissioner of Education, represented by Mrs. Nnena Okenwa, congratulated NOTAP and the Federal Government for the initiative, requesting that the gesture be extended to other schools in the state.
