NOTAP DG Commends NAF for its Research & Development Feats

Dr. Danazumi Ibrahim, director general, National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) has commended the Nigerian Airforce (NAF) for its exploits in Research and Development (R&D).

Dr. Ibrahim gave the commendation when he hosted the Chief of Standards and Evaluation, Nigerian Airforce headquarters, Air Vice Marshall Remigus Ekeh.

The Director General said the Nigerian Airforce is playing a leading role in research and development through numerous innovations and particularly mentioned the diaghragm technology which was locally developed by the Nigerian Airforce and patented through NOTAP.

Dr. Ibrahim said that for any nation to develop, its research and development efforts must be vibrant, insisting that Nigeria has no option but to domesticate technologies since it is blessed with abundant natural and human resources.

He stated that a major impediment to our development as a nation is the weak intellectual property culture in our Universities and Research Institutes which NOTAP is working hard to address through the establishment of the Intellectual Property Technology Transfer Offices (IPTTOs) to create awareness on intellectual property rights.

Earlier, the Chief of Standards and Evaluation Nigerian Airforce, Air Vice Marshal Remigus Ekeh said the visit to NOTAP is to cement the already existing relationship and further establish a pedestal for future partnerships between the two organizations.

He said that NOTAP is already assisting the Nigerian Airforce to create awareness on intellectual property rights by establishing an Intellectual Property Technology Transfer Office at the Airforce Institute of Technology (AFIT) Zaria.

AVM Ekeh revealed that the Nigerian Airforce has been undertaking a number of research and development projects over the years in collaboration with many Universities, Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

He stated that with the present security challenges in the country, the Nigerian Airforce is determined to resolve its operational problems in-house through research and development and has completed many of such with the intention of seeking NOTAPs assistance to patent them.

AVM Ekeh was accompanied on the visit by the Director of Research and Development Air Vice Marshal Paul Jemitola and the Director Manual, Wing Commander Michael Bisong.

It may be recalled that in 2016 NOTAP presented patent certificate to the Nigerian Airforce for its feat in the local production of hydraulic diaphragms for the Mi-35 helicopter.