By Daniel Timothy
The Director General of the National office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), Dr. DanAzumi Mohammed Ibrahim, has expressed excitement over the competence of Nigerian Inventors as demonstrated through commercialization of their inventions and research in the Nigerian Market.
While bemoaning the poor patent culture of Nigerian inventors, he urged them to protect their invention through patent, stressing that NOTAP is ready and willing to assist in filing for their patent at zero cost. When this is done their intellectual property cannot be stolen, he added.
He said no country of the world develops without paying critical attention to inventions and innovative activities of its knowledge workers.
According to him, patenting of intellectual property is a key step and fundamental to Commercialization of Research and Development (R&D) Result and Inventions.
Ibrahim, stated this on Monday, while declaring open a two-day Naija Inventor/Innovator workshop for selected innovators and inventors with viable Commercializable (R&D) results with the theme: “Commercialization of innovation/invention as a tool for Economic Diversification and Growth in the Nigerian Economy” in Abuja.
He acknowledged that no country of the world develops without paying critical attention to inventions and innovative activities of its knowledge workers, stressing that the Federal Government through NOTAP is in close synergy with the Association of Nigerian Inventors (ANI).
According to him, ANI, is a body that coordinates the activities of Nigerian inventors and innovators to sensitize them on the importance of patenting their inventions and innovations to ensure commercialization.
The Chief Registrar, Trademarks, Patent and Design Registry, Mrs. Stella Ezenduka in her paper titled “Importance of Trademarks in product Development and Marketing” said that the importance of patenting invention and innovations cannot be overemphasized as patent gives the owner the exclusive right or monopoly of financially exploiting their inventions for a period of twenty years without infringement
She said that Nigerian researchers have lost fortunes through exposing their inventions before filing for patent, adding that patenting and copyrighting of our intellectual works offers the owner the opportunity of recouping their investments on research.
The President of the Association of Nigerian Inventors (ANI) Mr. Lawrence Nzenagu in a remark, commended NOTAP for being in the forefront in ensuring the growth of intellectual property ecosystem in Nigeria.
He said that the Office has been critical to the successes recoded by members of ANI through sensitization as well as assisting in patenting of their inventions free of charge.
Ezenagu, disclosed that Nigerian inventors and innovators scatted across the country have performed remarkable well in the area of inventive innovative undertakings but requires financial support and grants from both public and private establishments to fast-track technology development in Nigeria.