The National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) has established the Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Office (IPTTO) in the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) Uli, Anambra State.
The move is part of efforts to demystify technology and instill an intellectual property (IP) culture in Nigerian knowledge institutions.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, the director-general, NOTAP, Dr. DanAzumi Ibrahim, represented by the director, technology transfer and registration (TTR) department, Dr. Ephraim Okejiri said that the establishment of IPTTOs in Nigerian tertiary institutions was an interventionist project of NOTAP to ensure the development of science technology and innovation (STI) through research.
He said that the programme was initiated by NOTAP in collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) to encourage intellectual property (IP) culture and ensure that researchers reap financial benefits from their research undertakings.
Ibrahim stated that developed countries that utilise their IP are the producers of the goods and services being consumed by the developing countries. He added that the global index for measuring nations’ development has 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 is carried out in 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 solving societal problems. He further stated that NOTAP, as a medium in encouraging patenting in Nigeria, assists researchers in writing claims, filing for patents and paying for patenting fees and only calls the researcher for collection of the patent certificate.
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 intellectual property protection, will encourage the development of startups which will translate into economic sustainability.
Nwakoby encouraged the staff and students of the institution to take the IP training that will be delivered by NOTAP seriously, to help refocus their research undertakings.
Three technical papers were delivered, the most notable being the ‘Framework for Management of Intellectual Property in Tertiary Institutions’ delivered by the director, technology acquisition and research coordination, Mrs. Caroline Anie-Osuagwu.
