…DG: Intellectual Property awareness was crucial to knowledge transfer
By Hillary Asemota
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology (STI), Chief Uche Nnaji, over the weekend said that for Nigeria to be a major player in Intellectual Property Rights, it must build and invest on the culture of innovation.
He posited added that what makes advanced countries tick was their breakthroughs in innovative activities, hence the need has become compelling for Nigeria and other developing countries to be recognized as a major player within the IPR ecosystem.
The Minister over the weekend in Abuja said the World Intellectual Property (WIP) was a day set aside by the United Nations (UN) to celebrate ingenuity, creativity and innovation to fast-track development.
Speaking on the imperative of the day to the global economic sustainability, the Minister acknowledged that inventions and innovations are products of critical research therefore, it was pertinent to celebrate our inventors, innovators artists as well as creators who have contributed significantly to our country’s socio-economic development.
He stated that Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) are pivotal in an evolving economy, fostering innovation, driving economic growth and enriching our cultural development.
He added that what makes advanced countries tick was their breakthroughs in innovative activities, hence for Nigeria and other developing countries to be recognized as a major player within the IPR ecosystem, we must build the culture of innovation.
The Minister further said that to ensure a rapid development of indigenous IP system and spur the innovative spirit of the Nigerian researchers, the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), an agency under the supervision of his ministry, established the Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Offices (IPTTOs) in some knowledge establishments in the Country.
He reiterated that as a ministry, they are committed to strengthening our intellectual property system, making it easier for innovators to protect their works.
He added that through NOTAP, Nigerian inventors and innovators have been assisted in patenting of their inventions free.
Nnaji, noted that while IPRs incentivizes innovation, overly restrictive policies can stifle creativity and impede progress, therefore it is imperative to foster an environment that promotes both innovation and accessibility to information.
In the same vein, the acting Director General of NOTAP, Dr. Idoreyin Imiyoho, said that intellectual property awareness was crucial to knowledge transfer and harnessing of Nigerian’s potentials within our knowledge institutions.
She said this in her paper presentation titled “Intellectual Property Commercialization, knowledge transfer and food security” at the 2024 Commemoration of the World Intellectual Property (IP) Day organized by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Nigeria at the UN house yesterday.
The acting DG said that Intellectual Property means the property of the human intellect. She IP can be any innovation, commercial, artistic, symbol, logo or design used for commercial purposes.
According to her, it can also be the creation of the mind, literary and artistic works belonging to a creator and can only be transferred or sold with the permission of the innovator.
She said that NOTAP was established to regulate the inflow of foreign technology into the country but also has the responsibility of encouraging the development and of indigenous technologies.
She reiterated that as a regulatory agency, NOTAP noted the weak Intellectual Property culture in the Country and in order to build a strong IP culture for sustainable economic development, in collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organization, midwife the establishment of Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Offices (IPTTOs) in some select knowledge institutions across the Country.
Imiyoho, stated that the establishment of IPTTOs has triggered healthy competitions amongst the knowledge institutions to the point that critical and market-driven research which have led to patents were undertaken.
Speaking further, she said that the WIPO, is the global body for intellectual property policy, services, information and cooperation. A special agency of the United Nations, assisting its 193 member states in developing a balanced intellectual property legal framework to meet societal evolving needs.
She said that in 2000, the World Intellectual Property Organization member states designated April 26th of every year as the day in which the WIPO convention came into force as World Intellectual Property Day with the aim of increasing general understanding and awareness on Intellectual Property and its importance to national development.
The acting DG assured WIPO of NOTAP’s unwavering support and commitment in ensuring that the culture of Intellectual Property is inculcated not only in Nigerian knowledge institutions but also the artisans who have over the years, demonstrated ability in fast-tracking STI development in Nigeria.