The National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) has presented patent certificates to twenty-one Nigerian researchers and inventors whom it assisted in registering their research projects.
While presenting the patents to the beneficiaries, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, emphasised the importance of intellectual property, stating that it has become “The basis of international power structure.”
“The speedy industrialisation of the country and its economic growth depend largely on the efforts of our researchers. Therefore, our innovation system managers should be conversant with Intellectual Property issues. I therefore, wish to commend NOTAP in organising this presentation,” he said.
At today’s Official Presentation of Patent Certificates to our brilliant researchers and inventors, I actively reinforced our commitment to supporting them, empowering them to drive innovation and contribute to Nigeria’s economic growth and industrial transformation.
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— HM Uche Geoffrey Nnaji (@ChiefUcheNnaji) January 27, 2025
The Minister expressed gratitude to the Patent and Design Registry of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment for their collaboration with NOTAP, which facilitated the patent registrations. He urged other researchers to take advantage of NOTAP’s initiatives to protect their intellectual assets for the benefit of Nigeria’s economy.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, Esuabana Nko-Asanye, highlighted that the issuance of patent certificates demonstrates the government’s commitment to promoting and safeguarding the intellectual contributions of inventors. Represented by the overseeing Director of Technology Acquisition and Adaptation, Engr Dahiru Azuftama, Nko-Asanye stated:
“As we present patent certificates to these remarkable individuals and organisations, we recognise the countless hours of hard work, research, and dedication that have gone into their innovations. Moreover, the patents we celebrate today not only represent individual successes but contribute to the collective progress of our great nation. These innovations have the potential to create jobs, stimulate economic growth, and enhance our global competitiveness.”
The Permanent Secretary pledged continued collaboration with agencies such as NOTAP to create an enabling environment for inventors to thrive, aiming to unlock their full potential and provide the recognition and support they deserve.
The Director-General of NOTAP, Dr Obiageli Amaobi, noted that securing a patent is only the beginning of a larger process requiring ongoing support, collaboration, and commercialisation.
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“Innovation does not end with securing a patent but is the first step in a larger process that requires sustained support, collaboration, and commercialisation,” she said.
Dr Amaobi emphasised NOTAP’s commitment to reducing the financial burden on researchers and inventors by assisting with patent application evaluations, drafting, and fee payments.
“Our intervention in this space is driven by a clear purpose: to reduce the financial burden on academicians and researchers so they can focus on the essential tasks of research and innovation,” she explained.
She revealed that NOTAP has successfully facilitated the issuance of over 340 patent certificates to date and stressed that the agency’s role complements, rather than substitutes, the critical functions of the Patent Registry under the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.
“I wish to express my most sincere appreciation to the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology (FMIST), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the Patents and Designs Registry, and our numerous partners and stakeholders, whose efforts ensure that the wheels of innovation continue to turn. Together, we can strengthen our nation’s technology ecosystem and create a future where indigenous innovation drives economic prosperity,” she added.
In her closing remarks, Mrs Caroline Anie-Osuagwu, Director of the Technology Acquisition and Research Coordination (TARC) department at NOTAP, educated beneficiaries on the benefits of their patents and advised them to renew their patents annually.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Prof Ajibade Abiodun Michael, proprietor of Horizon International University, Ekiti State, called for policy frameworks that protect inventors’ rights. He added that empowering organisations like the Association of Nigeria Inventors (ANI) would catalyse national development.
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