The Director-General of the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), Dr. DanAzumi Mohammed Ibrahim, represented by Mrs. Caroline Anie-Osuagwu, the Director of Technology Acquisition and Research Coordination, emphasized the importance of commercializing intellectual property (IP) patents during the Patentees Forum held in Jos, Plateau State. The forum, themed “After Patent, What Next,” aimed to encourage inventors and innovators to exploit the financial benefits of their patents.
Dr. Ibrahim stated that patents that cannot be transformed into tangible products or services are liabilities rather than assets. He urged researchers with patented inventions to consider licensing their inventions for royalty purposes or selling them outright to venture capitalists if they are unable to commercialize them. According to him, Nigeria has long relied on foreign research for products, while the country possesses a wealth of intellectual resources. He urged Nigerian researchers to engage in demand-driven research that can lead to the creation of goods and services for the nation’s benefit.
In his goodwill message, Prof. Tanko Ishaya, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jos and Chairman of the occasion, highlighted the significance of research in technological development. He emphasized that countries like South Korea, once considered developing nations alongside Nigeria, now serve as models of technological advancement. Prof. Ishaya noted that technology development is closely tied to research, but while countries like South Korea focused on industrially motivated research, Nigeria relied heavily on oil for economic sustenance.
The Vice-Chancellor reiterated that meaningful technology development requires substantial investment in research to bring products to the local market. He cited Innoson Motors Limited as a notable breakthrough in Nigeria; however, the company has not received the expected patronage from citizens. Prof. Ishaya stressed the importance of Nigerians supporting and patronizing locally-made products and services to attract international recognition and patronage.
Participants from the North Central Zone commended NOTAP for organizing the impactful program and requested the agency’s assistance in connecting them with potential investors or partners to invest in the commercialization of their inventions.
