The National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion NOTAP has commissioned another Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Office lPTTO in Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology ADUST Tech Wudil, Kano State North West Nigeria.
The Director General of NOTAP, Dr DanAzumi Mohammed Ibrahim, said that NOTAP was established to regulate the inflow of foreign technologies into the Country through the registration of Technology Transfer Agreements but also has the responsibility to encourage the development of indigenous technologies in line with the local content act and the implementation of Executive Order N0.5 as issued by the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration.
Dr Ibrahim noted that the programme was initiated by NOTAP in 2006 in collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to encourage Intellectual Property (IP) culture and ensure that researchers enjoy the financial benefits of their research endeavours.
“The establishment of IPTTOs in our knowledge institutions came as a child of necessity to ensure the development and domestication of critical technologies in Nigeria. In carrying out its statutory responsibilities, the Office realised that the culture of intellectual property in Nigerian knowledge institutions was weak and for a nation that desires to be a major player in global technology market, the situation must be addressed.”
He noted that NOTAP has moved on with IP advocacy to ensure that Nigerian researchers are fully abreast of the inherent benefits of undertaking market-driven research rather than embarking on research for the purposes of publication and career progression.
“Nigerian researchers are talented and have carried out numerous researches but lost their invention by publishing their research works before patenting them.“ Dr Ibrahim added.
According to him, as a way of encouraging patenting in the country, NOTAP is assisting researchers in writing claims, filing for patents and paying patenting fees.
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Musa Tukur Yakasai in his remarks said that the institution has to look forward to having the centre established to nurture the inventive and innovative spirits of the University Community.
“The university sent over 70 students abroad to undertake further studies up to PhD level, those are research students we who will return to add value to the potentials of the IPTTO,“ the VC said.
The Director of Technology Acquisition and Research Coordination (TARC), Department of NOTAP, Mrs Caroline Anie-Osuagwu, in her paper presentation titled “Framework for Management of Intellectual Property in Tertiary Institutions” said that no country develops without a vibrant IP ecosystem that is capable of transmuting the country into economic independence.
She encouraged researchers to engage in research that have the propensity of translating into goods and services.
PIAK
