Technology Incubation is a National programme with centres across Nigeria. In its awareness creation drive, Achievers Magazine engaged the technology Incubation centre Minna and the following ensued
Achievers Magazine
Technology Incubation Centre, why Technology Incubation Centre(TIC).?
Technology Incubation Centre
My name’s is Engr. Aliyu Umar Alhaji, Centre Manager, Technology Incubation Centre, Minna.
The Technology Incubation Programme ( TIP) is an economic development tool used by developed and developing Countries.
Therefore, Nigeria and Nigerians keyed into this programme in 1993 when a pilot centre was established in Agege Lagos and later spread to other parts of Nigeria, including Abia State
Though Minna Technology Incubation Centre was established 1998, it became fully operational in 1999.
The programme was established to commercialize Research and Development result from knowledge rating institution like Universities, Polytechnics, Colleges of Education and other technical Institutions as well as Research Institutes with research results viable for commercialization in order to benefit the people.
Therefore, Federal Government deemed it fit to establish this institute to serve as a link between Researchers and Private sector.
The Technology Incubation Centre will bring those research work together to see how it can be commercialized for people to benefit.
We also have individuals that have technical know-How that can be transformed to products or services.
Those Individuals are also encouraged to come to the centre so that we can assist them.
Moreso, there are ideas that have value addition that can be transformed to viable businesses and Enterprises as well as bigger Companies but those people maybe face with one challenge or the other.
Therefore, we would bring them in and assist them to overcome those challenges of initial hurdle for them to grow and become bigger Companies.
The essence of this, is to generate more employment opportunities and create wealth.
Achievers Magazine
What are the challenges confronting the Technology Incubation Centre Minna.
Technology Incubation Centre
One of the challenges the Incubation Centre faces is infrastructural decay.
You know, the programme has stakeholders which include Federal Government, State Government, Knowledge generating Institution which includes Universities, Polytechnics , Colleges of Education, Research Institutes, organized private sector and each of these stakeholders has responsibilities.
The responsibility of the Federal Government is to provide policy guidelines for the Technology Incubation programme and also provide manpower that would manage it.
Then the responsibility of the State Government is to provide Infrastructure, Buildings , Access Roads, Electricity and Water etc.
While that of the knowledge generating Institution is to make this research results available to the Technology Incubation Centre for it to be commercialized.
The responsibility of the organized sector is to pick interest in this research result and bring in funds to commercialize the research work.
These are the responsibilities of the programme stakeholders.
The Technology Incubation Centre programme in Minna is seriously facing the challenges of infrastructural decay and we therefore appeal to the state Government to intervene.
This is because where the centre is presently occupying is having a serious leaking roof problem and we have been managing it but is gradually getting out of control.
The leaking roof is affecting the property of the Government and Entrepreneur at the centre.
We have written to the state Government severally and they promised to intervene but upto now nothing has been done.
The management of Technology Incubation Centre, Minna is therefore appealing to the state Government to please help us to address the problem of the leaking roof.
Moreso, the programme is designed in such a way that after spending 2 or 3 years at the incubation centre, you will move your investment to an Industrial park which is expected to be provided by the State Government.
The Industrial park will be given to the business owners in form of leasing and the payment would be made within the space of some years.
This will enable the Government to utilize the funds to open more industrial parks.
In view of this, we therefore appeal to the State Government to help us build industrial park for our graduating Students.
This is because many of them after leaving the centre they find it difficult to survive outside.
This is because they don’t have anywhere to go except their various houses that can not accommodate their machines or equipment. As a result of this situation, most of them folded up after leaving the incubation centre.
Although most of the business owners do well at the incubation centre but after moving out it becomes a problem.
The absence of Industrial park is our biggest challenges.