The director-general of the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), Dr. Obiageli Amadiobi has urged software developers, fintechs and banks to prioritise the utilisation and promotion of made-in-Nigeria software.
She emphasised the importance of fostering indigenous technology as a means to strengthen Nigeria’s economy and enhance its competitiveness in the global technology ecosystem.
Amadiobi made this call during her panel session at the 2024 Texcellence Conference, organised by the Computer Warehouse Group (CWG) at the Balmoral Hall, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. The session titled “Government Parastatals Conversation, Collaborative Innovation: Shaping Africa’s Tomorrow Economy,” brought together experts and stakeholders to discuss the future of Africa’s digital economy and innovation.
Speaking on intellectual property rights (IPR), Amadiobi highlighted the significant gap in understanding patenting among researchers, inventors, and innovators in Nigeria. She attributed this gap to a lack of awareness, which prompted NOTAP to establish 67 intellectual property technology transfer offices (IPTTOs) in universities, polytechnics and research institutes across Nigeria. These IPTTOs aim to bridge the knowledge gap on intellectual property rights, ensuring that innovations are protected and commercialised.
She further explained that NOTAP’s recent collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is intended to build the capacity of IPTTO managers, enhancing their understanding of IPR and the benefits of securing patents. According to Amadiobi, this capacity-building initiative will help ensure that innovations from Nigeria are properly protected and leveraged for economic gains.
Amadiobi lamented the current trend where many researchers publish their work solely for academic promotions, without considering the economic potential of their findings. She emphasised the need for better collaboration between academia, industry, and the government – the triple helix model – to foster technology development and commercialization in Nigeria.
“NOTAP assists researchers and innovators in evaluating their findings and covering the costs associated with patent applications at the Patent Registry, domiciled within the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment,” she noted. She urged software developers and fintechs to safeguard their innovations by obtaining patents or copyrights, thus maximising the commercial value of their intellectual properties.
Collaboration, she emphasised, is critical for the growth of Nigeria’s technology ecosystem. She called for stronger policies to facilitate better partnerships between the public and private sectors, noting that such collaborations will drive technological innovation and foster economic growth across the African continent.
Group chief executive officer of the Computer Warehouse Group, Adewale Adeyipo echoed Amadiobi’s sentiments, stressing the role of technology in transforming economies. According to Adeyipo, the theme of this year’s conference, “Revealing Tomorrow,” underscores the importance of digital transformation for Africa’s development. He noted that technological advancements have become critical for nations to compete globally, particularly in improving citizens’ quality of life.
A key speaker at the event, Fredrik Haren, known globally as the “creativity explorer,” praised Nigeria for its creativity and confidence. He noted that while confidence is essential for innovation, curiosity plays an even more critical role in fostering creativity. Haren encouraged African countries to invest in artificial intelligence (AI) to boost productivity and creativity, stating, “Your creativity reveals your tomorrow and your curiosity inspires your creativity.”
Other notable speakers at the conference included managing director of MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola; CEO of Strata, Bode Abifarin; Director-general of NITDA, Mallam Kashifu Abdullahi (represented by Dr. Aristotle Onumo) and CEO of INGEN Ghana, David Gowu. Each speaker emphasised the need for effective collaboration among stakeholders to ensure the sustainable development of Africa’s technology ecosystem.
In her concluding remarks, Amadiobi commended CWG’s efforts in promoting indigenous IT solutions. She acknowledged that CWG has significantly benefited from the NOTAP Local Vendor Policy, which mandates the involvement of local vendors in the Annual Technical Support (ATS) services for software agreements. This policy has strengthened the capacity of indigenous software developers, enabling companies like CWG to develop software solutions for both local and international markets.
The Texcellence Conference, now in its third year, continues to attract stakeholders from various sectors across Nigeria and Africa. It serves as a platform to highlight the latest advancements driving Africa’s digital economy and provides opportunities for collaboration and knowledge sharing among Africa’s foremost innovators.
