Vice-Chancellors Present intellectual property policy to universities

The Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities CVCNU has presented a model intellectual property policy document for operation in universities across the country with a view to promoting global competition in the nation’s ivory towers.

The leadership of the CVCNU presented the document to Nigerian scholars in collaboration with the National Universities Commission NUC, Nigerian Copyright Commission NCC and the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion, NOTAP.

Speaking on behalf of the Vice Chancellors, the Chairman CVCNU Prof. Samuel Edoumiekumo, said the objective is to promote the generation, sustainable utilisation and better management of intellectual property in Nigerian universities.

He explained that the journey to the presentation of the intellectual property policy document began in 2020 when the Nigerian Copyright Commission and the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities met on ways of collaboration.

“Intellectual property became the focal point of the deliberation given its essential role in the academic operations of universities in particular and the principal role of ideas in a knowledge-driven economy and society.”

He recalled that “over the years, there have been several attempts by the Copyright Commission, which is the regulatory body, to ensure that academic institutions properly codify their intellectual property policies to conform with the World Intellectual Property format.”

“It clarifies issues relating to research contracts, incentives, rewards and compensation for intellectual property that arise from it’s commercialisation. It advices on how to maintain IP assets and resolve conflicts of interests, conflicts of commitments and other disputes. A vital part of the draft document is how to accommodate Expression of Folklore, Traditional Knowledge and Genetic Resources in our IP policy document,” he explained.

Prof. Edoumiekumo said: “Following today’s presentation we expect our universities to develop their policies based on their particular operating environment and upload their final Senate approved copies of the WIPO portal for global access.”

The vice Chancellors also appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to take charge and speed up the process of resolving the ongoing trade union dispute between Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU and other unions in tertiary institutions in the country.

“We plead that drastic action is taken to stem the hemorrhage that the system is currently witnessing. For the sake of our children and our society, we need the decision.“

Also Speaking at the event, the Chairman Governing Board of the Nigerian Copyright Commission, Prof. Esther Animi, lamented the increasing rate of plagiarism in universities, she applauded the vice chancellors and said they were already addressing the menace satisfactorily.

Noting that only 20 out of the 217 current universities in Nigeria have functional intellectual property policies, Prof. Animi said.

According to her, “This in turn should also raise the ranking of Nigerian Universities and additional source of revenue for sustainable development of education sector.” 

“I would therefore urge our universities to adopt the Model IP Policy as part of their internal framework to guide the institution, staff, students and visitors. Considering that research and integration are integral to the mandate of universities.

“As CVCNU marks its diamond jubilee this year, it is my hope that we can have at least the first 60 Universities sign up to the Model Policy before the end of the year,” she added”

The Director General of NOTAP, Dr. Azumi Ibrahim, said the aim is to gradually phase out imported technology.

He made known that Nigerians have started exporting software to other African countries.