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Tag: technology

  • Don advocates popularisation of Science and Technology

    Popularisation of science and technology has been described as the bedrock of sustainable development of Nigerian economy, hence, the need to popularise it.

    Professor Kolade Odekunle of the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Reseach (NISER), Ibadan made this known in a lecture he delivered. It was at the opening ceremony of this year’s annual Faculty of Science, The Polytechnic, Ibadan national conference themed: Science, Technology and Enterpreneurship for Suatainable Development, held at the Assembly Hall, North Campus of the intitution.

    Prof. Odekunle, noted that the overriding concern should be to infuse into all programmes elements that can generate popular desire for creativity and technological innovation in every segment of the society.

    He said:”These programmes should aim at inculcating in Nigerians an ?analytical, scientific mind to enable them confront problems encountered in everyday life, rather than engage outmoded theories and indulge practices rooted in superstition”.

    The don further held that:”One of the most urgent tasks which Nigeria must  undertake is the preparation of science and technology plans as components of  national development plans.

    He said:”Officials concerned with making ultimate decisions on choice of  technologies, suppliers, sources of finance should be familiar with complex elements of the technology transformation process. It is therefore profitable for government policy advisers to understand the issues involved in managing technology for socio-economic development”.

    Odekunle, posited that the formulation and implementation of informed technology policy will stimulate the creation of selection environment required by private sector to effectively capture the benefits of investing  in technological innovation, adoption and adaptation.

    He said this can be ?achieved through accelerated human capital development programme in technology policy and its management.

  • HP’s Technology Tour ‘ll boost ICT development, says Lagos

    The Lagos State government has said the deployment of information communication technology (ICT) tools to businesses and governance has reduced running cost, improve efficiency and enhance productivity.

    Its Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, Mrs. Nike Animashaun, spoke while declaring open, the HP’s 2015 Technology Tour at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos.

    He said businesses around the world need advanced technology as a way of reducing the cost of doing business while also churning out high scale productivity that redefines economies globally.

    She added that events such the HP Technology Tour will help fast-track the growth of the industry as it would provide stakeholders opportunity to brainstorm.

    She said: “As a responsible government, we are aware that with information technology, business transactions have become seamless globally, reducing physical presence and creating breath-taking pace of information exchange. The Lagos State government is happy to be part of the HP Technology Tour 2015.

    “An event of this magnitude will boost Nigeria’s ICT sector and enhance greater technological advancements through extensive brainstorming on pertinent issues within the IT industry alongside exhibition of the latest advancements in computer technology.”

    The tech firm explained that it is part of its contribution to information technology development in Nigeria. The event which also held in Abuja, was a gathering of captains of industry, small and medium scale business owners and IT professionals who were fascinated by the array of products of HP.

    The technology tour is aimed at providing businesses and IT professionals the opportunity to tap into the latest technology; and improve the performance and overall profitability of businesses while also guaranteeing security of business intelligence.

    “Growing with businesses globally, HP recognises the potential of information technology and have consistently re-innovate to ensure its customers are not left behind, especially businesses who dear to survive the very challenging global economic terrain.

    “The HP Technology Tour, presently being conducted across the globe is another giant move by HP to bring its customers closer to the latest in information technology.

    “With these new entrants, HP is redefining the style of doing business as a world class company. Investing over 10 per cent of its income on research and development last year, HP is focusing on creating values for businesses, ensuring mobility, cloud with enhanced security features that makes every HP product unique,” an official of the firm said on the sideline of the event.

    HP added that cloud, big data, security, mobility are reshaping the IT industry. HP World Tour offers incredible depth of information and access to experts from HP, HP partners and other professionals. Whether as a business or an individual trying to get the next project off the ground or to bring new ideas back to the organisation, HP World Tour provides the answers.

  • Diamond Bank chief urges technology adoption for competitiveness

    Diamond Bank chief urges technology adoption for competitiveness

    The Managing Director/CEO of Diamond Bank, Uzoma Dozie, has called for technology collaboration between business and the academia as a cost-effective way of enhancing Nigeria’s global competitiveness.

    Speaking at the Future Ready University Conference and launch of a mobile learning Experience Centre, financed by the bank at the Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, he said the time has come for the two to collaborate to push operating cost that is always on the increase.

    Other partners in the project are Softcom, Samsung Business and MTN Business.

    Delivering a keynote on “Why Financial Institutions Need to Play a Role in Digitising the Educational System,” Dozie said Future Ready is about being competitive to meet global needs, arguing that this could only be achieved only through the deployment of technology.

    He said: “From our experiences as a leading retail bank driving the integration of innovative solutions to meet modern lifestyle demands of our wide and diverse customer base, we know that technology offers better economy of scale as well as less expensive, more effective solutions.  This is the model we are trying to replicate in education in Nigeria.”

    He added that the Future Ready University initiative is a home-grown initiative designed to bring education in Nigeria into the 21st Century. ‘‘Many Nigerian parents send their children to schools abroad because the system is supported by technology that helps them keep track of their progress. With effective monitoring, stakeholders can pro-actively plan the education system to train manpower for the future of industry which ultimately leads to cost reduction in the long term,” he said.

    Speaking on the occasion, the Vice Chancellor, Covenant University, Prof. Charles Ayo, also noted that the future of employment in a globalised world is not based on quota but on the possession of the requisite skills. “Recognising that the 21st century student wants knowledge on the go and also wants to be an active partner in the learning process, Covenant University has adopted a problem-based learning approach that encourages students to seek out queries on their own for collective problem sharing and solution formulation. The result is that our students are more motivated to learn, collaborate in knowledge sharing and solution-centered.

    “The Future Ready University programme plans to expand this vision to every Nigerian student so they are not limited by physical spaces in the quest for knowledge; and that they have the best tools and skills to succeed.”

    Explaining the motivation behind the Future Ready University, Managing Partner, Softcom, Yomi Adedeji, said today’s students are largely spontaneous, interactive and heavily distracted. For educators to reach them, learning must provide engagement, exposure and evolving content.

  • Firm launches anti-spill technology

    To strengthen its health, safety and environment (HSE) service delivery in the oil and gas industry, Eunisell Solutions has introduced a secondary tank containment system on its production facilities to further minimise oil spill.

    Eunisell’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Dickson Okotie, said the innovation was in line with the company’s commitment to the health and safety of its staff and the growing need to find more innovative ways to protect the environment especially where containment of environmentally hazardous fluids are stored within its production facilities.

    He stated the secondary containment system is designed to withstand fluid pressures resulting from rapid fluid fill from a non-catastrophic failure of up to 15,000 barrel of oil. “The design is such that the surface mounted containment system can safely contain the internal fluid pressure, should a spill occur and also withstand high wind speed without loss of contained fluids. The tanks are perfect in today’s world for crude oil because they are designed with a proprietary blend of polyurea impregnated geotextiles and a state-of-the-art, high-performance elastomeric materials that provide tough, flexible, resilient products.

    “At Eunisell, we continue to introduce innovative ways of getting things done more efficiently while meeting the standards laid down by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency,” he added.

    The company has maintained an 18-year record of a high level health, safety and environment protection policy. It has also recorded no loss time incident in its operations on the central processing facilities built and managed for marginal field operators in the country.

    The company provides services and products that measure, improve, control and process flow from oil and gas wells, well testing services, and drill stem testing, among others.

     

  • ‘Only 25 percent women use internet’

    ‘Only 25 percent women use internet’

    A report has revealed that women are at a disadvantage on the use of technology and access to the internet.

    The report by Intel claimed that compared to men, women still have lower access to the internet.

    Considering the reports which stated that 25 percent fewer women than men are online in developing countries, Intel reaffirmed its commitment to bridging the gap with its Intel She Will Connect Programme.

    However, the Programme, in recent time, has been in the forefront of educating young girls and women on maximum contributions toward economic and social development across the world.

    At the recently concluded capacity building workshop on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for women journalists in Lagos, Mr. Olubunmi Ekundare, Intel Nigeria Managing Director, Intel West Africa, stressed the dedication to bring about positive change in the African Girl Child.

    Further reiterating the importance of educating the girl child, the Director said, “Here at Intel, we believe, and I’m sure we all agree, that smart girls are the equivalent of a smart world.

    “What we seek to do, more than encouraging you all, is to do your best in school and seize the opportunity to build a world where youths are inspired to be advocates for change.”

    The Corporate Affairs Manager, Mr. Babatunde Akinola, explained that She Will Connect Programme aims to close the gap for girls in terms of access to the internet and digital literacy.

    Akinola maintained that the company will provide technical resources and expertise to deliver digital literacy training, online peer networks and gender relevant content to empower young girls and women in Nigeria.

    The programme hopes to have reached five million women and girls across Africa by 2020, empowering them to get and stay online and help others like them, thereby reducing the gender gap by 50%.

    Intel She Will Connect is a model that incorporates digital literacy with gender and development programming targeting women and girls. The programme was first launched in September, 2013 in the USA.

  • Technology, integrity gave Buhari victory, says Zinox chief

    The deployment of the tools of information communication technology (ICT) to the last general elections and the integrity of the chairman of the electoral umpire, the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), have been identified as the two factors that aided the transparent victory of Gen Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) at the polls.

    Chairman, Zinox Group, Chief Leo Stan Ekeh said the adoption of card readers which reduced very significantly incidences of rigging, impersonation, multiple voting and other electoral vices paved the way for the peaceful conduct of the election.

    He added that the personal integrity of the INEC chair, Prof. Attahiru Jega went a long way in lending credibility to the process while helping the nation to avert a needless electoral crisis.

    Ekeh, who is chairman of the biggest ICT group in sub-Saharan Africa and who has been at the vanguard of the campaign of digital technology adoption in Africa, spoke in Lagos.

    Ekeh urged improvement on the card reader technology to graduate to a more innovative level such as electronic voting as a means of eliminating fraud in the electoral process.

    He said: “Innovation is very important; we must embrace technology in every facet of our nation-hood to make this a reality. The just concluded elections went a long way in improving voters’ confidence in the process and this was due to the adoption of card readers and the personal integrity of Prof. Jega which saved the nation from crisis which could have resulted from an otherwise flawed process.

    “However, we must keep our fingers on the handle of innovation to build more credibility in the system. In future elections, the option of electronic voting could be considered as this will definitely put paid to various forms of rigging. This will help create a situation where over 95 per cent of the electorate will begin to accept the outcome of an election as representing the will of the majority.”

    Ekeh, whose Zinox Technologies demystified electoral registration for the 2007 and 2011 polls with the supply of computers and card readers which aided the building of a voter database for INEC, also urged government to give the youths freedom to succeed through technology.

    He said: “Technology helps unleash skill and style to the world and anyone who fails to embrace it runs the risk of being left behind. We must encourage the younger generation to achieve global success through technology.

    “With the enabling environment and right policies by government, we can create many more billionaires of the calibre of Aliko Dangote and Mike Adenuga from our youths and the multiplier effects on our economy will go a long way in creating wealth and more jobs for a lot more people.”

  • Adopt reverse engineering to bridge technology gap

    For stakeholders to tackle challenges in the industrial  sector, they should promote reverse engineering, Managing Director, Bank of Industry (BoI), Rasheed Olaoluwa, has said.

    He spoke during a visit  by some management staff of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering to BoI’s office in Lagos.

    According to Olaoluwa, over-dependence on technology transfer or importation of industrial machines will further limit the country’s potential of developing local competencies and industrialisation.

    He urged professionals to take a cue from China in reverse engineering technology  to meet technological demands that would further address growing needs in the real sector.

    Earlier, Olaoluwa said while many developed countries were adopting smart manufacturing models, their Nigerian counterparts were using old equipment, which hamper the competitiveness of indigenous goods.

    This, according to him, is a challenge that should be addressed as quickly.

    He stressed that no country would develop technology and give it away, urging Nigerian engineers, scientists and technologists to adopt reverse engineering.

    “BoI has been structured to support commodity-based industrialisation by encouraging value-addition of exploited raw materials. Last year, we visited quite a number of institutes with a view to encouraging technological innovation. We are already in the process of advancing linkages.

    “We will look at collaboration with the academy. We are passionate about technology because of its relationship with industrialisation and the belief that innovation should be explored to address societal needs.”

    He said technology transfer is low in the country,adding that research and development should be encouraged to support the growth of local technology.

    “BoI has engaged with top research institutes, such as FIIRO, PRODA to link them to our industries. We may not be cutting edge but we have the basics; if our hundreds of researchers are encouraged, we have a good base we can build on,” he said.

    President, Nigerian Academy of Engineering, Prof. Raifu Salawu, sought collaboration between the bank and the academy in making Nigeria’s industrialisation a reality, adding that the academy was ready to assist the nation through innovative solutions and experience in achieving the objective.

    “The academy through its members has intervened in various development exercises and phases in the nation.

    “Today, we are renewing our commitment to the nation’s industrialisation efforts by seeking a partnership with the Bank of Industry by offering our services and experience as professionals and intellectuals in ensuring that researches are end-use oriented while facilitating interaction between the academy and industry,’’ he added.

     

  • Doctors trained in new eye treatment technology

    Doctors trained in new eye treatment technology

    To prevent avoidable blindness, ophthalmologists and optometrists have been trained on a new technology known as femto-laser surgery.

    The training, according to Health Partners, a Health Maintenance Organisation (HMO), will provide succour for patients suffering from cataracts and refractive errors.

    At a workshop in Lagos entitled: The New femto laser technology in cataract and refractive surgery, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Eye Foundation Hospital, Dr Kunle Hassan, said the advanced technology will simplify surgery and ensure treatment outcome.

    He said: “We are here because of the advance of technology in the eye care industry. Our organisation is usually on top of available high-tech modalities for treating eye diseases.”

    His organisation, he said, places importance on internationally-acceptable standards.

    The new technology, Hassan said, will be useful to cataract and refractive error patients, who do not want to wear eye glasses.

    The technology, he said, was the first in sub-Saharan Africa, adding: “It’s a special laser that is different from any kind of laser we have used before.”

    The procedure, he said, is done with laser, stressing that it is safe with predictable result.

    Besides, it is done for patients suffering from short and long sightedness, presbyopia, keratoconus, astigmatism or refractive error, who detest wearing glasses.

    “Femto laser surgery is usually done with topical anaesthesia eye drops to numb the eye. No injection required. The procedure takes between five and 10 minutes. No eye pad and hospitalisation. The effect is immediate,” he said.

    Hassan said the technology would tremendously improve the visual outcome of cataract surgery, adding:  “One of the patients who had a minus 18 refractive error benefited from the technology.”

    The CEO of Health Partners, Dele Salami, urged medical practitioners to provide quality service to the public.

    His words: “Today we are able to train some ophthalmologists and optometrist and tell them that they can do better if they collaborate with themselves. This is called good practice, especially where two or four professionals collaborate instead of everybody standing alone. They could form a synergy to deliver services to the people.” To prevent avoidable blindness, oph

    thalmologists and optometrists have

    been trained on a new technology known as femto-laser surgery.

    The training, according to Health Partners, a Health Maintenance Organisation (HMO), will provide succour for patients suffering from cataracts and refractive errors.

    At a workshop in Lagos entitled: The New femto laser technology in cataract and refractive surgery, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Eye Foundation Hospital, Dr Kunle Hassan, said the advanced technology will simplify surgery and ensure treatment outcome.

    He said: “We are here because of the advance of technology in the eye care industry. Our organisation is usually on top of available high-tech modalities for treating eye diseases.”

    His organisation, he said, places importance on internationally-acceptable standards.

    The new technology, Hassan said, will be useful to cataract and refractive error patients, who do not want to wear eye glasses.

    The technology, he said, was the first in sub-Saharan Africa, adding: “It’s a special laser that is different from any kind of laser we have used before.”

    The procedure, he said, is done with laser, stressing that it is safe with predictable result.

    Besides, it is done for patients suffering from short and long sightedness, presbyopia, keratoconus, astigmatism or refractive error, who detest wearing glasses.

    “Femto laser surgery is usually done with topical anaesthesia eye drops to numb the eye. No injection required. The procedure takes between five and 10 minutes. No eye pad and hospitalisation. The effect is immediate,” he said.

    Hassan said the technology would tremendously improve the visual outcome of cataract surgery, adding:  “One of the patients who had a minus 18 refractive error benefited from the technology.”

    The CEO of Health Partners, Dele Salami, urged medical practitioners to provide quality service to the public.

    His words: “Today we are able to train some ophthalmologists and optometrist and tell them that they can do better if they collaborate with themselves. This is called good practice, especially where two or four professionals collaborate instead of everybody standing alone. They could form a synergy to deliver services to the people.”

  • Curbing fish wastage through smoking technology

    Curbing fish wastage through smoking technology

     Fish is a staple food vital for good health. But the challenge for fish farmers is storage after harvest to enable them sell. Following this, there is a campaign to introduce smoked fish technology to prevent spoilage and help farmers earn more income. DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    F Phil Onuoha has his way, all his fishes will be smoked. This followed dwindling sales, he suffered selling fish fresh.

    A hardworking and dedicated fish farmer, Onuoha prefers selling his fish fresh from the pond.

    The challenge however is that fresh fish can’t hold long periods of time.  Though consumers prefer fresh fish, his challenges are transportation and storage facilities to keep it in a condition that can still be sold after moving them from the ponds.

    For him and other farmers, transportation of live fish to the markets requires investment in trucks with fish holding cages.

    While long distance transport of fresh fish further requires ice or trucks with cooling devices, the road from his farm  to  the  market  is  bad during certain seasons.

    In Ikorodu, a Lagos suburb, where his farms are located, transporting fresh or live fish to rural markets was not feasible .

    Besides, being expensive, it takes him time to move fish to central  Lagos   where consumers are willing and able to pay higher prices.

    Not able to do direct marketing, he has to contend with  market  women  who come  to buy  on  the farm.

    Onuoha  said  the  women  would  always  want  him  to sell at a price that is not profitable and  to  serve  as major  link  to  the  market.

    While lowering the price will enable him  to  sell  more, he  said it  makes no  sense economically to do so.

    As a result, sale at most  times  is  often   poor  after harvest. Besides, he explained that  the    fish industry is prone to seasonal fluctuations in demand.

    In most cases, fluctuations in  demand  is taken care  of by  processing.

    According  to him, selling fish is a high-risk business, as they go bad very quickly, so they have to do whatever they  can to reduce the risk.

    The option  for him is  smoking. After harvest, he  smokes the fish within the farm. This helps  him  to  control  supply to the market, stabilise prices and reduce  waste.

    So far, he is making gains. His customers are aware he sells smoked fish. Also, consumers’ preferences for taste and price are taken care of.

    Although modern preservation technologies would simplify their processes and would enable them to sell fresh fish, them can’t  afford to buy  cold  storage  equipment which cost run into millions of naira.

    For such, smoking  fish  may  be  the way  to go.

    He said  small-scale fish traders  invest significant time and effort to preserve their stocks using traditional methods before they sell it.

    To  experts,  kilns  used for  traditional smoking involves burning wood which leads to a variety of problems.

    Aside producing  more greenhouse gas pollution , it  releases contaminants known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are hazardous to the human respiratory system.

    Farmers, also  suffer  from intense heat  that  affect their  health.

    The campaign now is to get more farmers introduced to smoking kiln technology that improve processing by reducing the smoke level to internationally acceptable standards.

    One of the organisations promoting  this is  the West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAPP).

    WAAPP  has resolved  not    to  strengthen  fisheries  but  to  support   technology transfer  through  universities  and research  institutes.

    WAAPP-Nigeria National Project Coordinator, Prof. Damian  Chikwendu  said the  priority focus of the project  in Nigeria include aquaculture, poultry, cassava, maize, and rice among others.

    He said WAAPP-Nigeria is   committed to doing anything possible to promote aquaculture.

    In this regard, he  said  the National Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research (NIFFR), New Bussa, Niger State is emerging into a National Center of Specialisation in Aquaculture. The objective, according to him,  is to develop and release top notch technologies in aquaculture for adoption in Nigeria and Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) countries to increase productivity.

    Chikwendusaid  the  programme is also supporting the smoked fish  project at  the  institute.

    Another institution also involved in this campaign is University of Ibadan,(UI).

    In its  Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management are specialists in aquaculture development .

    The  department  conducts  market research and provide  fish farmers  with business management support. It also  provides  technical assistance to visiting farmers.

    Speaking while receiving World Bank WAAPP  team at the university, its Head of Department, Aquaculture and Fisheries Management, Prof Bamidele Omitoyin  said the school is  training  students  on smoked fish technology.

    In addition, he  said  farmers  are  trained  to process fish free from benzo-a pyrene considered hazardous to health.  The facilities in the department, he maintained,  has  the capacity to smoke one tonne per batch within 24hours, adding that UI has all it takes to deliver services in areas of aquaculture.

    The university fish farm, for instance, he noted is well positioned to deliver dividends in aquaculture research while essential infrastructure are also on ground to support research and production activities in the animal sciences.

    At  the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIMOR) ,Lagos, the  World Bank WAAPP Task Team Leader ,DrAbdoulayeTouré  said  access to smoked  technology is making real change possible for  fish farmers .

    With the support of  WAAPP, he  said  NIMOR  has  trained entrepreneurs on modern fish smoking technology and introduced an industrial fish smoking kiln fabricated by the institute.

    He  said the improved fish smoking project aimed to catalyse the development of sustainable value chain fish smoking improving energy efficiency and supply.

    He  reiterated  that  WAAPP   is implementing a regional fisheries strategy aimed at improving the sustainable regional supply of fish and fishery products. The programme has five different result areas, the fifth one being food security, which primarily focuses on the implementation of activities, geared at reducing post-harvest fish losses that occur in small-scale fisheries.

    In line with   this,  NIOMR  Executive Director, DrGbolahamAkande has urged cat fish farmers to embrace canning as a means of preserving their products.

    He said cat fish farmers were recording losses due to poor  preservation and lack of value chain, adding  that canning would boost the income of the fish farmers.

    “Canning the catfish will create value and increase the income of farmers. Instead of selling fishes unprocessed and at ridiculous prices, farmers  should either smoke or can them to enhance their profit,” he said.

    According to Akande, canned catfish   would compete favourably with the imported  canned products  such as Geisha and Sardine and  also has the potential to become an export product for  the country.

    Its  Head of Extension and Media Relations, Dr. Mabel Yarhere, said that the Catfish Canning Innovation Platform (CCIP) project was sponsored by the Forum for African Agricultural Research with $100,000 (N19.7 million)

    She said the fund was to support research, processing, market survey, mobilisation of farmers and launching   various stage  of the project within nine months.

    According to her, farmers in the Southwest zone have been mobilised and empowered to embrace the project.

    “We have assisted the farmers with fingerlings and feeds to boost catfish production as a step towards the success of the CCIP,” she said, adding that the platform was connecting co-operative societies to  commercial banks, which would give them loans to drive their active participation in the projects.

    Remarking that the CCIP project was a platform set on a stable ground and would create an open market for existing farmers and aspiring ones, she expressed delight that some of the farmers were already setting up canneries through sponsorship by state governments.

    She assured of the safety of consuming canned catfish as it has no health implications.

    “We have followed the international best practices as specified by FAO from primary production to finished products. We have worked with various local and international regulatory agencies to ensure quality,” she said.

    To  support the  Federal Government’s  move to increase fish  production, the   National Association of Fish Farmers in Kebbi State said  it will partner with the state SURE-P on the establishment of fingerlings production centre and packaging of fish after harvest.

    Its Chairman, Alhaji Hussaini Raha, said the association would also partner with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and National Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research, New Bussa, on the management of fish farms.

    Raha said an update of the membership records revealed 12,050 members located in Argungu, BirninKebbi, Bunza, Bagudo, Shanga, Yauri and Ngaski local government areas, producing tilapia and catfish.

    According to him, the association has also registered 9,000 artisans and 300 cooperative societies.

    He said that the association would strive to meet international standard in the production of smoked and fresh fish.

     

  • Technology incubators: A boost for entrepreneurs

    Technology incubators: A boost for entrepreneurs

    Technology incubation centres can play a major role in boosting entrepreneurship, writes DANIEL ESSIET.

    IN five years, experts said, the number of small tech firms will increase. These firms will rake in huge revenues.

    However, for this to materialise, the nation needs more technology incubation centres where entrepreneurs will be empowered to rent spaces and nurture their businesses until they can afford accommodation.

    The Centre Manager, Technology Incubation Centre, Agege, Lagos, Mrs Julie Momah said new businesses are given free accommodation  at the Lagos Centre for three years. During this period, she said the businesses are exempted from taxation.

    At the centre, equipped with  fabrication and testing facilities, Mrs   Momah said, young tech entrepreneurs can be mentored.

    So far, many young Nigerians have benefited from the centre, graduating in beads production, anti-bacterial hand wash, starch, multipurpose liquid soap, leather shoes, air fresheners, herbal bathing soap, and body cream making, among others.

    They are also ex-participants who are involved in the production of unripe plantain flour, bean flour, soya flour, spices, packaged pure honey and fruit juice production.

    She said the centre is  committed to the continuous training of entrepreneurs.

    These centres,  she said, has produced small scale entrepreneurs who may emerge as a new class of businessmen.

    Over the last 10 years, the Federal Government has been encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship through the National Board for Technology Incubation  (NBTI). It urged the Board to create more incubators across the country.

    Given the support system provided by the centre, the expectation is that companies stand a chance of reaching their goals.

    At the centres, access to experts across all engineering and management disciplines  is easy.

    She said the centre has contributed to the promotion of awareness on the essential role of innovation, adding that its programme is helping Small and Medium Scale Entreprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs to be innovative.

    According to her, it is fundamental to identify opportunities and the added value small enterprises can bring, by integrating their own skills and developing training programmes to improve enterprise performance, enhance profitability and growth, and offering technology and management support to SMEs and early movers to maximise the value of their ideas.

    She  said  the centre supports entrepreneurs in building ventures to promote livelihoods, education, healthcare, agriculture, connectivity and financial inclusion.

    Businesses in the incubator fall within some stages – conception, where a first-cut assessment of the strategic environment is made, to development, where feasibility and go-to-market strategies are b explored and, ultimately, commercia, where profitable market opportunities are exploited and the focus is on growing the venture.

    The National Board for Technology Incubation  Director-General, Dr Mohammed Jibrin, said the Federal Government would collaborate with state governments to establish incubation centres in the stes.

    He said the organisation thrives on technology-based and knowledge-driven programmes in fulfillment of its mandate to pursue the commercialisation of research  outcomes.

    It’s the aim of the Federal Government that each state gets a technology incubation centre.

    “We have been having very good success stories. For example, we have Spectra Industries, a graduate of the programme of the technology incubation centre, Lagos, which has been invited for listing by the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

    “It is into thermocool production, coolers, warmers, and undulated thermo-equipment using local raw materials.

    “We have a graduate from the technology incubation centre, Benin, Austin Laz Nig. Ltd, which is already in the NSE.

    “The company is into food products manufacturing using locally available materials.

    “We have others who have excelled. Sarah Specials has won an award for coming second in a recent entrepreneur’s competition,“ he said.

    Jibrin has expressed the need for the establishment of Technology Incubation Parks (TICs), in the 36 states.

    He said the states with TICs would not only take idle youths out of the streets but help in developing local technology and incubation. He also expressed the need for commercialisation and increment of essential oil and hydrosol production in an effort to scale up research and development in the country.

    As part of its efforts to fulfill its mandate, the NBTI boss said the Board had established new TICs in Nasarawa, Benue, Ebonyi, Gombe, Katsina, Jigawa and Kogi states in line with the Council’s resolutions of 2013.

    He noted that the respective state governments were to ensure best practices of the Technology Incubation Programme, TIP objectives the centres.

    He said the government will encourage the private sector to establish institutional based technology incubation centres to train more Nigerians on entrepreneurship.

    “The government is already embarking on the sensitisation of the interested members of the public so that they can establish private incubators that can be operated with very little or no support from government,” he said.

    He said about 800 research and development results have been incubated by the 27 centres, adding that 500 of them have been worked on.

    Acting Director of Commercialisation Department, National Board for Technology Incubation Mr Isa Yusuf said it generated more than N1.5 billion for the economy from 2005 to 2012.

    He said the amount was generated from its soft loans and grants to entrepreneurs during the period under review.

    Yusuf said the grants and soft loans coordinated by NBTI were invested and that they achieved so much for the economy as well as created job opportunities.

    He said: “Most of the grants are from our Presidential Standing Committee on Inventions and Innovations (PSCII) and, then, some of the soft loans that NBTI coordinated with the Bank of Industry and National Economic Reconstruction Fund (NERFUND).

    “But the funds are being utilised to the best of ability and the repayment is encouraging with little problems here and there because of economic problems in the country and the high cost of production really affecting some of the entrepreneurs in their day-to-day businesses.

    “I can tell you as at now, the net worth generated is more than N1. 5 billion ploughed into the economy. Because of the encouragement and support these entrepreneurs got, the turnover is really encouraging; a lot of people have got employment.

    “In fact, more than N1.5 billion has been ploughed into the economy since the board was established in 2005 to date.”

    He said the agency was making  efforts to ensure that products made by the entrepreneurs who benefited from the agency’s funding and training schemes hit the market.

    Yusuf said many of the products were already in the market, adding that the agency would ensure that those interested in distributing and selling them were given the opportunity to be part of it.