NBTI creates 22,000 direct jobs via community incubation centres – D-G

The National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) says since its inception in 2005, the Board has created over 22, 000 direct jobs via its community incubation centres across the country.

Its Director-General, Dr Uchenna Chukwu, disclosed this on Wednesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

According to Chukwu, NBTI has created more than 22,000 direct jobs through its community incubation centres.

Chukwu said every Nigerian entrepreneur with proven innovative research and development (R&D) result or local technology has opportunity to be admitted into any of the incubation centres

According to her, the Nigerian enterprise will be nurtured till it booms and becomes freestanding.

She urged willing entrepreneurs to continue to engage the board in its pursuit of national development via any of its centres across the country.

The NBTI boss said, “The key action for national development is productivity as it enhances GDP and the general wellness of the citizenry.

“ Continuous production of goods and services in quality and quantity is our daily activity in NBTI.

“NBTI is the only agency of government mandated to commercialise R&D result and the coordination and management of technology incubation programme in Nigeria.

“ Productivity translates to improvement, progress, job creation, wealth creation, change for better, higher income, better living standards,’’ NBTI boss said.

According to her, the quantity of goods and services available to people influences the quality of their social life, material advancement and enhances control of their environment, leading to overall development of the nation.

“Technology incubation is an enterprise support process that accelerates the successful development of start-up and fledgling companies by providing entrepreneurs with an array of targeted resources and services.

“NBTI has established a Technology Incubation Centre (TIC) in each State of the federation where proven R&Ds, Start-ups and fledging enterprises avail the entrepreneurs’ pertinent services and aids including common facilities.

“ Beneficiaries are also availed commercial and administrative support as well as access to grants, funding sources, opportunities of partnership with investors and sales or export outlets.’’

She said that NBTI provided entrepreneurs support services to enable them to grow and become upgraded in various businesses and technology skills till they become free standing profitable enterprises.’’

According to her, the aim of NBTI is the continuous production, support and enablement of enterprises that will make the programme financially viable and freestanding.

“Graduates from our incubation centres have the potential to create jobs, revitalise neighborhoods, commercialise new technologies as well as strengthen local and national economies.