NANFeatures/Vol.12/No.58/2018 (April 10)
NBTI: Boosting entrepreneurs’ capacity, socio-economic development
A News Analysis by Perpetua Onuegbu, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
Youths at an incubation centre (Courtesy: opinionnigeria.com)
The need to empower citizens and create wealth among creative youths gave rise to the establishment of the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI).
Stakeholders in science and technology believe that Nigeria is blessed with a significant population of youths that can be used in harnessing the country’s natural resources.
In the light of this, the Federal Government views the establishment of NBTI as a good development to form a platform for developing technology among the youth and develop the nation.
NBTI is to ensure the commercialisation of technologies and technical innovations in a method that will enhance the industrial and economic competiveness.
To realise this, the board has established technology incubation centres in more than 30 states of the nation with extension offices in some states.
Prof. Mohammed Jubrin, the Director-General of the board, said that the board was also planning to establish a centre in Taraba and the Federal Capital Territory.
According to him, the board has the plan to have representation in every state so that every Nigerian will have the opportunity to develop in technology.
To create awareness about the activities of the board, NBTI recently held an exposition in Abuja with the theme: “Fast-tracking socio-economic development through science, technology and innovation’’.
Jubrin said that the board showcased an array of entrepreneurs in the exposition with products that could compete with international standards, noting that more than 30 entrepreneurs from different states exhibited their products.
During the exposition, Mr Yakubu Dogara, the Speaker House of Representatives, said that innovations and inventions created by Nigerians should address the problems and challenges faced by the nation.
“The expo should be used to address critical issues in the country such as health, climate change, diseases, biotechnology, environmental degradation, water resources and other issues of national importance.
“The interdependence of science and industrialisation is no coincidence as industrialisation rides on the wings of science technology and innovation.
“Therefore, I urge the participants and organisers to use this event to proffer solutions to those areas that need urgent intervention and promote national development,’’ he said.
Jibrin also recalled that in Kano State, the Technology Incubation Centre of the board had taken many almajiris off the street and equipped them with skills in fabricating grinding machines.
One of the almajiris, Malam Abdulfatai Rabiu, said that he was grateful to the board for taking him and others off the street.
According to him he can now contribute his quota to the development of the nation instead of fomenting trouble.
Similarly, Mr Josiah Nyalwat, an entrepreneur from the Jos Technology Incubation Centre of the board, fabricated agro-products driers, threshers and milling machines.
Nyalwat said the machines were fabricated to help farmers to dry their produce after harvesting.
“We find that drying crops outside can bring about environmental contamination of crops, so with these driers, crops are dried more hygienically and the health of the generality of the citizens is safeguarded.
“So, the Technology Incubation Centre has really helped us to build these machines, making available infrastructure and personnel that help us with the day to day improvement on our work,’’ he said.
Another entrepreneur from the board’s Technology Incubation Centre in Ado-Ekiti, fabricated toothpick stick-making machine.
“What brought about the idea is that we noticed that most of the toothpick sticks we use in Nigeria are imported.
“ It would be a shame when we have so many scientists and engineers for us to still be importing something as small as toothpick sticks.
“So we decided in Technology Incubation Centre, Ado-Ekiti, in collaboration with one of our entrepreneurs who is an engineer to fabricate a toothpick stick-processing machine.
“With the invention of the machine, we are adding value to the country’s technological development, its economy and at same time, when the machine is patented, people can purchase it to produce toothpick sticks and also employ labour,’’ he observed.
Similarly, Mr Egware Oghenemaro, an entrepreneur from Technology Incubation Centre in Warri, produced coconut oil and coconut flour.
He said that all he needed to produce the products were available at the centre, appealing to the government to allocate more funds to the board to empower more youths.
Making observation during the exposition, Mr John Oyegun, the National Chairman, All Progressives Congress, noted that no nation could become great without science and technology.
“No nation can grow without the ability to modify existing innovations because it is the catalyst to every area of development in the country.
“If the appropriate resources are put into research, innovation and science, this nation will be on its way to greatness,’’ Oyegun said.
Participants at the exposition, therefore, admitted that NBTI had been empowering Nigerians by creating wealth, observing that it ought to be the responsibility of the Federal Government to fund the commercialisation of its inventions.
They also urged the government to encourage other relevant agencies to partner with the board in marketing the products and export them to other countries to boost the nation’s foreign exchange.(NANFeatures)
**If used, please credit the writer as well as News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)