BENIN CITY – The Technology Incubation Centre (TIC), Benin has advised Nigerians to take advantage of the opportunities available at the centre for the production of home grown technology which drives the entrepreneurial spirit.
The Acting Centre Manager of the Federal Government Owned Agency, Mr. Fawole Akinpelu gave the advice yesterday when the agency paid a courtesy call on the management of the Bendel Newspapers Company Limited (BNCL) to show case home grown products from the centre.
While the Technology Incubation Programme is an initiative of the Federal Government, he pointed out that it is a veritable tool for the commercialization of research and development results.
“It is an integrated support programme designed to assist budding entrepreneurs. The goal is to maximally exploit local and regional economic development, job generation, wealth creation, technology acquisition and commercialization and promotion of techno – entrepreneurship culture in Nigeria,” he stated.
Akinpelu disclosed that the centre has successfully nurtured 43 companies since inception, which companies are expected to be players in the local and global economic environment as capable independent enterprises.
“These companies, engage in diverse technological, innovative and economic ventures, are tax payers and huge employers of labour and as at the last count they collectively had a direct and indirect staff strength of close to a thousand people (strong).
“An entrepreneur under our past incubation scheme is the sole indigenous producer of durable hand gloves and rubber bands from natural rubber latex in Edo State and this rivals the imported but substandard products,” he pointed out.
Youths, he said are encouraged to start their enterprises, adding that entrepreneurs under its scheme have received numerous awards and grants from reputable institutions such as PAN African University, Central Bank, Raw Materials Research and Development council, State and Federal Governments, among others.
The Acting General Manager, Bendel Newspapers Company Limited (BNCL), Publishers of THE OBSERVER titles, Rev. Monday Aigbe assured the Centre of adequate publicity concerning their activities.
Aigbe advised them to feel free to approach the organization for necessary publicity that would enhance effectiveness of the company in the discharge of its responsibilities to the people of Edo State.
