The National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP)–Nigeria, under the aegis of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS), organized the 1st National Workshop on “The Establishment of Science and Technology Parks for Development”, from 13th to 16th July 2009 in Abuja, Nigeria. In connection with its cooperation programme with ISESCO, COMSATS sponsored the expenses for some local participants and resource persons in this collaborative activity.

The workshop inter alia endeavoured to explore ways and means to: consolidate the understanding of S&T parks and their role in linking R&D to industry for socio-economic development; highlight the role of S&T parks in the creation and growth of companies committed to innovation, incubation and development process, and exchange experiences among participants in order to create a synergy between different stakeholders in designing programmes on scientific parks in Nigeria.

Besides the Honourable Minister of Science and Technology, Government of Nigeria, Dr. Alhassan Bako Zaku who inaugurated the event, the workshop attracted the attendance of Director Generals/representatives of various government agencies, the Secretary General of Nigeria National Commission for UNESCO and Honourable Commissioners/Permanent Secretaries from several states, as well as members of the academia. It also attracted S & T based NGOs, civil society groups, and electronic and print media organizations.

The workshop also featured a keynote address by the Honourable Minister of Science and Technology; goodwill messages from UNESCO, ISESCO, the State Governments of Kano, Anambra and Abia States; lead presentations from national and international experts and sharing of practical experiences from different agencies and states including Kano ICT Park, Akwa Ibom Science & Technology Park, North Central Zonal Science Park Benue, Abia State S&T Park and Techno-Park of Dubai. Based on these presentations, the workshop deliberated exhaustively on the critical issues necessary for the establishment of viable and sustainable science and technology parks in Nigeria.