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The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief 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.
Speaking 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 that NOTAP as a regulatory body understands the importance of sound technical education to the development science, technology and innovation, hence the upgrade of chemistry laboratories of secondary schools across the geopolitical zones of the country.
He said 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.
Nnaji noted that NOTAP over the years, observed lack of interest in science and technology related subjects by the Nigerian students and 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 reiterated that no nation develops without heavily investing 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 posited that the major education foundation is usually 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.
He congratulated NOTAP for being strategic in revamping the Nigerian educational sector through it impactful programmes and projects in the Nigerian schools. He promised continued support to the office to the actualization of the mandate.
Earlier in her welcome speech, the director-general of NOTAP, Dr. Obiageli Amadiobi, said that as a regulatory agency, the office 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 explained that the project, “Model Chemistry Laboratory Equipment Upgrade,” was initiated by NOTAP in 2018 to ensure that basic practical science and technology are taught in Nigerian secondary schools. The project aims to “catch them young” and accelerate the country’s technological development.
Dr. Amadiobi noted that meaningful development cannot occur without the strategic deployment of science and technology instruments. She emphasized 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 DG informed the gathering that the commissioning of the Akpugo High School laboratory brings the number of upgraded secondary schools in Nigeria to eight, even as she added that NOTAP is committed to upgrading more chemistry laboratories across the country’s geopolitical zones and requires support from critical stakeholders.
While congratulating the school for attracting this gesture from NOTAP, Amadiobi urged them to make judicious use of the equipment. She also appreciated the minister for his unwavering support to NOTAP.
In his good will message, the Hon. Commissioner of Education, Enugu State represented by the Director of Higher and Science/Technical Education, Mrs. Nena Okenwa said that education was the bedrock of development especially when it is rooted on science foundation.
In a statement by Raymond Ogbu of NOTAP’s media unit, Okenwa congratulated the Federal Government for upgrading the Akpugo High School laboratory and requested that the gesture should be extended to other schools in the state.
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