The National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) has called on Nigerian researchers to focus on innovative and market-driven research that translates into tangible goods and services, thereby accelerating national development.
Speaking at a one-day Patentees’ Forum, organised in collaboration with Hansy Slems Global Resources Limited in Ikeja, Lagos, NOTAP’s director-general, Dr. Obiageli Amadiobi emphasised the crucial role of researchers and innovators in driving Nigeria’s economic growth.
Amadiobi stressed the importance of shifting from conventional academic research to practical, market-oriented research that directly contributes to economic transformation. She pointed out that while Nigeria aspires to become a global leader in intellectual property (IP), weak IP awareness and protection systems within the country’s knowledge institutions have hindered progress. To address this, NOTAP, in collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), launched the Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Offices (IPTTOs) in 2006. This initiative aims to raise awareness about intellectual property rights (IPR) and ensure that research conducted in Nigeria’s universities and research institutions goes beyond academic advancement to contribute to real-world economic development.
Before NOTAP’s intervention, research and development (R&D) findings from Nigerian institutions were largely underutilised, gathering dust on shelves due to limited understanding of their commercial value. Amadiobi highlighted that this scenario has started changing, with patents emerging from research efforts. She proudly revealed that NOTAP has assisted over 340 Nigerian researchers in patenting their inventions at no cost. The forum, she noted, was convened to guide researchers on the necessary steps after securing patents, ensuring that patented innovations lead to viable products and services that benefit society.
The NOTAP director-general underscored the significance of patenting research findings for intellectual property development. She noted that even when an invention possesses strong commercialisation potential, investors remain hesitant to fund it without patent protection, which guarantees ownership rights. However, she cautioned that securing a patent is merely the beginning of the journey, and the real challenge lies in transforming these patents into market-ready innovations. Researchers, she urged, must look beyond patent certificates and actively seek pathways to commercialisation.
Amadiobi expressed satisfaction that the Lagos event successfully marked the agency’s efforts to hold similar forums in different regions of Nigeria. Previous editions have taken place in the south-south, northeast, north-central and southeast zones. She extended her gratitude to organisations such as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigerian Patent Registry, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and the Bank of Industry (BOI) for their continuous support in advancing Nigeria’s intellectual property landscape.
During her presentation titled “After Patent, What Next?” the director of technology acquisition and research coordination at NOTAP, Mrs. Caroline Anie-Osuagwu reaffirmed NOTAP’s commitment to fostering intellectual property growth in Nigeria. However, she acknowledged that the agency requires greater collaboration from both government and private sector stakeholders to scale its impact. She stressed that in today’s global economy, knowledge has become a more critical driver of economic development than natural resources. Nigeria, she argued, must align with this shift by prioritising research that fosters innovation and contributes directly to industrial and commercial advancements.
Anie-Osuagwu urged researchers to actively engage in discussions, exchange ideas, and share challenges and successes to inspire one another. She emphasised that strengthening Nigeria’s research and innovation ecosystem is vital for achieving the country’s economic blueprint and aligning with the ’Renewed Hope’ agenda of the current administration.
In a statement released by NOTAP’s head of public relations and protocol signed by Raymond Ogbu, Anie-Osuagwu reiterated that the forum was designed to help patentees maximise the commercial potential of their inventions. She encouraged researchers to build networks, leverage available government and private sector support, and explore collaborative opportunities that can drive their innovations from research labs into the marketplace.
The vice chancellor of the University of Lagos represented by the IPTTO coordinator, Olayinka Adewumi, the president of the Association of Nigerian Inventors, Mr. Lawrence Nzenagu, the representative of the Bank of Industry, Lagos State, Mr. Uchechukwu Ojiegbe and other dignitaries took time to commend NOTAP.
As Nigeria continues to push for a knowledge-driven economy, the call for researchers to embrace market-driven research, secure patents and actively commercialise their innovations is growing louder. With strengthened IP protection and commercialisation strategies, Nigeria can harness its vast intellectual potential to drive sustainable economic growth and global competitiveness.
