The Director General/CEO of the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), Dr. Kazeem Kolawole Raji, conducted an extensive inspection of the Technology Incubation Centre (TIC) Ilorin on Monday.
Dr Raji’s was part of a broader engagement in Kwara State that included the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the state government, underscored NBTI’s commitment to fostering high-quality, competitive indigenous products and improving staff welfare.
While welcoming the DG/CEO to TIC Ilorin, The Centre Manager Engr. Yusuf AbdulFatai Kolawole commended his strategic vision and leadership in advancing NBTI’s mandate. He also praised the DG/CEO’s ability to inspire and mobilize staff through a range of innovative initiatives aimed at driving the Agency forward.
During his interactions with NBTI staff and entrepreneurs, Dr. Raji stressed the importance of producing products that not only meet but rival international standards. “Our entrepreneurs must prioritize the development of standard, well-packaged products to attract market attention,” he said.
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The DG/CEO highlighted key areas of support that NBTI provides to ensure products are competitive:
• Commercialisation of R&D Products by helping entrepreneurs bring their innovations to market.
• NAFDAC Registration Assistance by guiding entrepreneurs through the regulatory registration process.
• Quality Assurance by ensuring rigorous supervision by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to maintain high-quality standards.
Entrepreneurs at TIC Ilorin are currently developing a range of products, including large-scale manufacturing of tri-tractors, local rice milling, production of circuit boards for solar lights, processing dates into syrups, as well as the production of honey, grease, vehicle coolants, and hydraulic fluids.
Dr. Raji while addressing the staff of TIC, Ilorin also acknowledged that despite the quality of products emerging from NBTI, the organization’s visibility remains limited. “We have excellent products, but without proper publicity, our achievements do not receive the recognition they deserve,” he observed. In response, a reform of the Public Relations Unit has been initiated to boost NBTI’s presence nationwide. Dr. Raji urged all staff to follow NBTI on social media and actively share its content with their networks.
Emphasizing the importance of staff welfare, Dr. Raji remarked, “Your well-being is my priority. A content and well-supported team is essential for our success. He called on all staff to continue collaborating with management and to embrace innovative thinking for the overall betterment of the organization.
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The National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) is dedicated to nurturing technology-based startups and small and medium enterprises. “By bridging the gap between research and commercialization, NBTI plays a pivotal role in advancing indigenous technological innovations and driving economic growth in Nigeria”, he concluded.
