The Director General of the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), Dr. Obiageli Amadiobi has said that Companies that do not submit their technology transfer agreements to NOTAP for proper evaluation and registration will soon face stiff penalties and prosecution.
Amadiobi made this revelation when she led the top management staff of NOTAP on a familiarization visit to some Information and Communication Technology (ICT) companies, recently, in Lagos stating that NOTAP was established to regulate the inflow of foreign technology through the registration of technology transfer agreements to promote the development of locally motivated technologies.
According to the press statement signed by the Head Public Relations and Protocol Unit, Raymond Onyenezi Ogbu, the Director General further stated that while the Office is working assiduously to ensure that Nigerian companies are offered the best contractual terms in acquisition of foreign technologies, some companies are hiding under the non registration of hardware to avert registration of their agreements because they have lumped up software and hardware together thereby shortchanging the system.
She expressed the commitment of the Office in synergising with companies that strictly comply with NOTAP rules but will ensure stiff punishment for erring ones.
“Available records show that a greater percentage of companies in Nigeria operate on imported technologies which run into millions of dollars without NOTAP registration necessitated by Law, thereby shortchanging the Nigerian economy.
“By law, it is mandatory that NOTAP should be involved during the technology negotiation stage to ensure that the Nigerian entrepreneur acquires appropriate technology in best contractual terms so to enable rendition of services commensurate with the money expensed on it.”
Earlier in his welcome address, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Computer Warehouse Group (CWG), Mr. Adewale Adeyipo expressed delight in the energy and enthusiasm demonstrated by the new DG within a few days of her appointment, adding that the company is ready and willing to partner with NOTAP in ensuring the development of the ICT ecosystem.
