The National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) said all is set for the revival of its technology transfer project focused on fruit juice production, which began in collaboration with the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) in Paiko, Niger State.
Director-general of NOTAP, Dr. Obiageli Amadiobi announced this during a courtesy visit to the RMRDC headquarters in Abuja, where she led a management team from NOTAP. She emphasised that the fruit juice project, initiated in 2019 with a pilot plant, holds significant economic potential for the country, particularly if implemented across all six geopolitical zones. Therefore, it is imperative that the project is urgently revitalised.
Amadiobi stated that with the combined technical expertise from both agencies, the project is poised for success and aligns with the current administration’s ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda, which aims for self-reliance, job creation, and wealth generation.
Additionally, the director-general advocated for collaboration with RMRDC on various flagship projects and programmes, including the NOTAP Research Laboratory Upgrade Project, Intellectual Property Technology Transfer offices (IPTTOs), the NOTAP-Industry Technology Transfer Fellowship (NITTF) and the Database of Nigerian Professionals under the Presidential Executive Order No. 5.
In response, the director-general of RMRDC, Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso expressed his approval of the project concept. He noted the necessity of auditing the pilot plant’s status and identifying the requirements for its business operations.
Ike-Muonso also mentioned the potential for collaboration with NOTAP in training RMRDC staff on intellectual property rights, as well as on the commercialisation of research and development initiatives conducted with universities and laboratory upgrades.
The meeting concluded with an agreement on the need for staff from both agencies to conduct an onsite assessment at the Paiko site, along with planning additional follow-up meetings to ensure the project’s success and collaboration.
This partnership between NOTAP and RMRDC is expected to enhance technology transfer, research and development commercialisation, industry collaboration and intellectual property development, contributing to the nation’s rapid technological advancement.
