…Commissions another office in Ojukwu University in Anambra
By Micheal Eyibio
In a bid to encourage Intellectual Property (IP) culture and demystify technology in our knowledge institutions, the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) has established yet another Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Office (IPTTO) in Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) Uli, in Anambra State.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of NOTAP, Dr. DanAzumi Mohammed Ibrahim, represented by the Director Technology Transfer and Registration (TTR) department, Dr. Ephraim Okejiri, said the establishment of IPTTOs in Nigeria tertiary institutions was an interventionist project of NOTAP to ensure the development of indigenous technologies through the promotion of Science Technology and Innovation (STI).
He said that the programme was initiated by NOTAP in collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in 2006 to encourage Intellectual Property (IP) culture and ensure that researchers reap financial benefits from their research undertakings.
He stated that countries in the developed world that utilised their IP are flooding African Countries with goods and services. He added that global index for measuring nations development had shifted from resource to knowledge based, hence the need to encourage IP development in Nigeria.
The DG further stated that a lot of uncoordinated research activities are carried out in the Nigerian knowledge institutions but with the establishment of IPTTOs, researchers are beginning to shift from conventional research just for career progression to demands driven research for the purposes of tackling societal problems. He further stated that NOTAP as away of encouraging patenting in Nigeria is assisting researchers in writing claims, file for patent and pay for patenting fees and only call the researcher for collection of the patent certificate. He decried the huge gap that had existed between academia and industry, adding that the establishment of IPTTOs and other critical programmes of NOTAP such as NOTAP-Industry Technology Transfer Fellowship (NITTF), gap is reduced as both now work in synergy for economic sustainability of the country.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Greg Nwakoby, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor academics, Prof. Osita Chiaghanam, said that the decision to establish IPTTO in the institution was not a mistake as the University had been known for its prowess in Science and Engineering, adding that the IPTTO will open up opportunities for their research results to be patented.
He said that NOTAP, s visionary leadership programmes especially in the area of Intellectual Property protection will encourage the development of startups which will translate into economic sustainability.
He encouraged the staff and students of the institution to take the IP training that will be delivered by NOTAP seriously as it will help in re-focussing their research undertakings.
Three technical papers were delivered and notable among them is the Framework for Management of Intellectual Property in Tertiary Institutions, delivered by the Director Technology Acquisition and Research Coordination, Mrs. Caroline Anie-Osuagwu.
