Drop in prices of crude oil gives impetus to our laudable project ― Onu

THE Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, on Monday, launched an intellectual property and technology transfer office at the University of Calabar, a project renovated and equipped by one of its agencies, the National Office for Technology Acquisition & Promotion (NOTAP) in Calabar.

While commissioning the project, the minister said it came at an appropriate time when Nigeria was experiencing recession in her economy.

Dr. Onu, who stated this in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Taye Akinyemi, a copy of which was made available to the Nigerian Tribune in Abuja, added that the project would solve the problem of technology transfer in the nation’s tertiary institutions, where students would engage in intellectual exchange of ideas.

According to him, the drop in prices of crude oil has given impetus to the development of this laudable project, as the government of President Muhammadu Buhari is committed to create employment, as well as wealth and job creation, and by this gesture is desirous to extend this goodwill to other Universities in Nigeria.

He said that it was expected for the new office will “serve as a reference centre for scientific research and innovation for capacity building and assessment of research findings for analysis and training”.

The minister then implored the management of the University to rise up and protect intellectual findings before investors could come in for transaction.

Dr. Onu further urged the management to employ science and technology as a veritable instrument to help diversify and strengthen the economy, as Nigeria has no other option than to engage itself in technological innovations as a viable road to follow.

He also commended the Director General of NOTAP, Dr. Dan-Azumi Mohammed, for creating a platform of social investment responsibility for young Nigerians in the University to engage in technology transfer, and that the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology would continue to lend its support in that regard.