The federal government is to engage indigenous firms and the organized private sector to help commercialize research results produced by researchers, inventors and innovators in the country.
Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, minister of Science and Technology
Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, minister of Science and Technology, disclosed this when he received the board of IP First Group, made up of outstanding key players in the various fields of intellectual property in Nigeria, which paid him a courtesy call in his office last week in Abuja.
Dr. Onu urged researchers, innovators and scientists to ensure that they patent and protect their research outputs because investors prefer research results that are patented.
According to him, intellectual property is the best criteria to measure the creativity and inventiveness of a nation, adding that Nigerians must be encouraged to protect their intellectual properties by getting them patented.
He said that for Nigeria to create wealth, jobs and sufficiently defeat poverty, the nation needs to vigorously pursue a knowledge-based and innovation driven economy.
Dr. Onu further said that since the inception of the Buhari administration, Nigeria has made meaningful progress in achieving a knowledge-based and innovation driven economy by encouraging patent of research innovations.
In his words, “the progress made in the issuance of patents has been remarkable. In 2016, the number of patents in Nigeria rose from 5 to 16 and by the end of 2017 it rose to 50 and still counting”.
He commended the IP first group on its efforts in the formulation of a National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy for Nigeria and the establishment of an Industrial Property (IP) Commission.
Earlier, Dr. Umar Buba Bindir, chairman of IP First Group, said the major aim of the NGO was to ensure that Nigeria has a strong intellectual property policy, that will protect and patent research innovations indigenously developed in the country.
Dr. Bindir lamented that lack of policy and Industrial Property Commission has significantly weakened Nigerian intellectual property system and constitutes a drain in Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings.
He said his NGO is resolved to ensure that all elements of Intellectual Property are well documented and coordinated nationwide.
Dr. Bindir, said that Intellectual Property protection is a catalyst for national development and industrialization.
He further said his NGO is poised to ensure that Nigerian firms and companies no longer need to import and consume Intellectual property from abroad, adding that the implementation of a National Intellectual policy will help achieve this.