NOTAP-Industry Technology Transfer Fellowship (NITTF)
The National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) is a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (FMSTI) mandated to regulate the inflow of foreign technology into Nigeria and promote the development and commercialization of indigenous innovations for national advancement.
As part of this mandate, NOTAP established the NOTAP-Industry Technology Transfer Fellowship (NITTF), a voluntary public-private partnership initiative aimed at building a pipeline of highly skilled PhD-level researchers in Nigeria. The scheme supports doctoral programmes in Nigerian universities for a maximum period of four years, co-funded by NOTAP and private-sector sponsors.
The overarching goal of the NITTF is to produce a pool of indigenous critical knowledge workers and future academic professionals whose research supports national technology development. Fellows are expected to contribute to Nigeria’s research ecosystem post-study by returning as faculty or researchers in universities or research institutions.
ETF as a Sponsor in the NITTF Scheme
In 2018, the Nigerian Breweries – Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund (ETF) voluntarily joined the NITTF scheme in line with its commitment to education, innovation, and capacity development in science and technology. Since then, the ETF has sponsored a total of four (4) doctoral research fellows across two cohorts.
First Group of Beneficiaries (2018)
- Desmond O. Nwaze – University of Lagos
- Topic: Catalytic Conversion of Bio-Ethanol to Motor and Industrial Hydrocarbon Fuels
- Support: ₦2,000,000 across two academic sessions
- Status: Beneficiary personally decided to discontinue his PhD programme in 2023
- Chalbyen John Magaji (Late) – University of Agriculture, Makurdi
- Topic: Assessment of Agricultural Developments Impacts and International Price Shocks Using Computable General Equilibrium
- Support: ₦1,000,000 for one year
- Status: Beneficiary unfortunately passed away in September 2019
Second Group of Beneficiaries (current)
ETF is presently sponsoring two additional fellows with ₦1,000,000 per year over four years, totalling ₦8,000,000. The support covers tuition, registration, accommodation subsidy, and research allowance. Both fellows are expected to complete their programmes in 2025:
- Akinyosoye Toluwani Seun – University of Ibadan
- Topic: Extraction and Characterization of Pectin from Some Tropical Fruits
- Nwachukwu Winifred Adaobi – Nasarawa State University, Keffi
- Topic: Comparative Evaluation of Biochemical, Nutritional and Sensory
- Qualities of Malt Beverage Fortified with Some Herbal Extracts
About the NITTF Annual Monitoring Exercise
The NITTF Monitoring Exercise is a joint annual activity coordinated by NOTAP in partnership with sponsoring industry bodies such as the ETF. It provides a formal opportunity to assess the academic progress, research direction, and overall engagement of the fellows with their universities and supervisors.
The visit allows NOTAP and ETF representatives to engage directly with the fellows and host institutions, promote accountability, and ensure that the programme’s objectives, particularly the transfer of applicable research to industry and society are being met.
Oluseye Olokun
Sustainability and CSR Manager
April, 2025.
