The National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) has officially inaugurated the 65th Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Office (IPTTO) at the Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE) in Effurun, Delta State. This new IPTTO is part of a broader initiative by NOTAP to strengthen the intellectual property infrastructure within Nigerian academic institutions, with 67 IPTTOs established so far across the country.
During the commissioning ceremony on Wednesday, August 28, NOTAP’s Director General, Dr. Obiageli Amadiobi, highlighted the urgent need to fortify the intellectual property framework within Nigeria’s knowledge institutions. Dr. Amadiobi explained that NOTAP was initially created to oversee the regulation of foreign technology through the registration of technology transfer agreements. However, it also has a vital role in encouraging the development and domestication of local technologies.
She noted that while carrying out its mandate, NOTAP observed a significant weakness in the intellectual property systems of Nigerian universities and research institutions. For a nation aspiring to be a major player in the global science, technology, and innovation (STI) arena, this was seen as a critical issue that needed addressing—hence the establishment of the IPTTOs. Dr. Amadiobi emphasized that in developed countries, universities and research institutions are not only central to their nations’ economies but also contribute significantly to their GDPs.
She urged Nigerian universities to shift their focus towards conducting market-driven research that addresses societal challenges, rather than solely pursuing academic research for publications. Dr. Amadiobi lamented that many Nigerian researchers fail to move their research and development (R&D) outputs from the shelves to commercialization, which hampers the potential economic benefits.
The NOTAP Director General encouraged FUPRE’s academic community to utilize the opportunities provided by the IPTTO to patent their research at no cost to the institution. She stressed that while intellectual property is intangible, it should be protected to allow inventors to financially benefit from their creations. Dr. Amadiobi reiterated NOTAP’s commitment to fostering an innovative culture in Nigeria through continuous advocacy for strong intellectual property rights (IPR) and the importance of research in national development.
Prof. Akpafure Rim-Rukeh, Vice Chancellor of FUPRE, represented by Deputy Vice Chancellor Prof. Doris Favwe Ogeleka, expressed the university’s excitement over the establishment of the IPTTO. He noted that the center would significantly expedite the evaluation and application processes for intellectual property within the institution. He also outlined FUPRE’s vision as an international leader in providing world-class education, research, and services in the petroleum and allied sectors since its inception in 2007.
Prof. Rim-Rukeh highlighted FUPRE’s accomplishments, including obtaining one international patent and 33 national patents, some of which have been successfully commercialized. He mentioned that the university is home to 15 centers of excellence, with plans to establish more to further enhance intellectual property awareness and development within the academic community. He challenged the university to leverage the IPTTO to produce research that can be effectively commercialized for societal benefit.
In her presentation titled “Intellectual Property Assets Management,” Mrs. Caroline Anie-Osuagwu, Director of Technology Acquisition and Research Coordination at NOTAP, discussed the strategic value of intellectual property assets, including patents, trademarks, and trade secrets. She encouraged researchers to protect their innovations to fully realize the financial rewards.
The inauguration of the IPTTO at FUPRE represents a significant step forward in Nigeria’s efforts to build a robust intellectual property ecosystem, driving innovation and enabling the commercialization of research outcomes for the betterment of society.
