MR. O.O. ADELEKE
ACTING DIRECTOR, TECHNOLOGY ACQUISITION AND ASSESSMENT (TAA)

Establishment   

The Department of Technology Acquisition and Assessment (TAA) was established in November 1993 as a means to bridge the gap that has existed between Research and Industry.

The lapse was traced to the absence of a clearly articulated plan showing how Research and Development (R&D) result could effectively be translated into viable industrial enterprise to produce useful products or service for the benefit of the populace. The lapse had indeed resulted in the lukewarm attitude of policy makers towards the funding of Science and Technology (S&T) activities in Nigeria, this is gradually changing.

• The obvious negative impact of the above trend had been the negligible contribution of the Ministry to the industrial and economic development of the country. The activities of the Department shall focus and provide guidelines to addressing these impacts through:
• Pursuit of the Commercialization of R&D results for effective research-to-industry linkage using the Technology Incubation Programme
• Pilot commercialization ventures in collaboration with Private investors
• Consolidation and improving the activities of Technology Incubation Programme
• Encouraging and promoting of indigenous inventively and creativity
• Identifying the current technology Needs in some selected critical sectors of the economy for the purpose of acquisition, adoption and adaptation of appropriate technologies.
• To generate development-friendly Technology acquisition, adaptation and deployment structure that will support Consultation and Coordination amongst stakeholders to prosecute implementation processes.
  

The following are the functions of the Department:-

Formulation of Policies on and coordination of activities for the:

• Acquisition of technology from the Nation’s Research Institutes and Tertiary Institutions of Learning;
• Assessment and acquisition of relevant and profitable technologies from other countries; and
• Assessment and promotion of technologies developed by indigenous inventors and entrepreneurs

Design and coordination of programmes for the setting up of incubator industries resulting from technologies outlined on the above mentioned through collaborations with indigenous and /or foreign technical or financial partners;

Liaise with the legislative functionaries of Government to appropriate laws to protect Nigerian enterprises resulting from locally motivated research and development results or from acquired foreign technologies;

Liaise with appropriate Federal and State Ministries , their agencies and private sector on matter relating to the translation of R&D results into viable industrial enterprises;

Co-operate with, as well as monitoring, co-ordination and supervision of the following Parastatals:

1.  
   • The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) and its Centres namely; SEDI-E, SEDI-M, CAT, EMDI, HEDI, NEDDEC, and PEEMADEC.
   • The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC).
   • The National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP).
   • The National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI).
   • The Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI).
   • The Federal Institute of Industrial Research (FIIRO).
   • The Project Development Agency (PRODA).

The Ministry through the Department of TAA is coordinating among others the following programmes:

• Evolving a viable Science and Technology Parks (S&TP) Programmes in the six Geo-political zones of Nigeria.
• National Technology Needs Assessment (NTNA) Programme in the following identified sectors; (i). Agriculture. (ii). Energy. (iii). Health.  (iv). Transportation
• Technology Impact Assessment (TIA) Survey of Parastatals under the supervision of the Department (TAA).
• Presidential Standing Committee on Innovations and Inventions (PSCII).
• Technology Foresight (TF).
• African Ministerial Conference on Science and Technology (AMCOST) Bureau III.
• FMST–Flagship Programme

Past Directors

(a).  Engr. M.T.Ahmed (mni)  (1993 – 2004)

(b).  Dr. M.A.N. Ejiofor (2004 – 2005)

(C)   The incumbent Director (2005 – Date)