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.
  

Engr. Y.S Mohammed was born on the 12th November, 1954 to the family of Mallam Yahaya Sheshi of Bida Local Government Area, Niger State.

He attended Kofar Eyagi Primary School, Bida from 1961 - 1967 and obtained his General Certificate of Education (GCE) in 1972.

Engr. Y. S Mohammed holds the following qualifications: a Diploma in Water Resources Engineering from Kaduna Polytechnic in 1975; Bachelor of Engineering (Civil Engineering) in 1978 and a Master of Science in Traffic and Highway Engineering in 1983.

• Fellow Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE);
• COREN Registered - Registered with Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN).

He has the following Experience:

• Ministry of Works, Minna, Niger State.

a) Resident Engineer in-charge of supervision of Paiko-Lapai Road Project (48 Km);

b) Resident Engineer in-charge of supervision of Bida-Kataeregi - Minna Road Project (81 Km) 1983-1985;

• Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Abuja.

a) Chief Resident Engineer, Central Area Infrastructure Project (1985-1988);

b) Deputy Director in - charge of City Infrastructure Division, Engineering Dept (1988-1999);

c) Acting Director, Abuja Environment Protection Board (1999 - 2001);

• Ministry of Federal Capital Territory (MFCT), Abuja.

a) Director, Abuja Environment Protection Board (2001- 2003);

• Transfer of Service to the Federal Civil Service as a Director (Civil) from 1/1/2004;
• Head of Civil Service of the Federation Office as a Director (Engineering & Maintenance Dept.) from 2007 - 2009.
• Federal Ministry of Power, Abuja.

a) Director, Planning, Research and Statistics Dept (Jan. 2009-Nov. 2009);

• Federal Ministry of Science & Technology, Abuja.

a) Director, Technology Acquisition and Assessment Dept. (TAA) from Nov. 2009-date.

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)   Dr (Engr.) U. B. Bindir                 (2005 - Jan. 2009)

(d)   Mr. O. O. Adeleke                       (Acting Dirctor, Feb. 2009 - April 2009)

(e)   Alhaji I. A. Jega                           (May 2009 - Nov. 2009)