Dr. Barr. Obiageli Edith Amadiobi, the Director General of the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), has called for a strengthened partnership with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to advance Intellectual Property (IP) development in Nigeria. This appeal was made during a courtesy visit by the NOTAP management team to the Country Director of WIPO, Dr. Oluwatobiloba Moody, at the United Nations headquarters in Abuja.
During the visit, Dr. Amadiobi highlighted the need for enhanced capacity building and increased awareness of intellectual property among researchers, inventors, and innovators in Nigeria. She emphasized that after visiting several Intellectual Property Technology Transfer Offices (IPTTOs) established by NOTAP in various Nigerian universities, it became evident that more needs to be done to encourage demand-driven research and the protection of intellectual property in the country.
Dr. Amadiobi also underscored the importance of reassessing and retraining the IPTTO coordinators to improve their capacity in managing these centers for optimal results. She noted that although NOTAP and WIPO have enjoyed a cordial working relationship since the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 2006, the pace of execution has been slow, necessitating a reinvigoration of the collaboration.
In her remarks, Dr. Amadiobi appealed to WIPO to consider offering specialized training for NOTAP officials and IPTTO coordinators at the WIPO Academy. This, she noted, would significantly enhance their capacity in intellectual property management, particularly in the rapidly evolving technological landscape.
Responding to the DG’s remarks, WIPO Nigeria’s Country Director, Dr. Oluwatobiloba Moody, acknowledged the critical role of NOTAP in promoting innovation and expressed WIPO’s commitment to deepening its partnership with NOTAP. He mentioned that WIPO’s Technology Innovation and Support Centers (TISC) in Nigeria could greatly benefit from the structure and broader reach of the NOTAP IPTTOs, thereby complementing WIPO’s existing efforts.
Dr. Moody further outlined WIPO’s ongoing IP development initiatives, including the IP Labs for start-ups, the IP Skill Acquisition Learning and Youth Entrepreneurship (IP SALAYE) program launched in collaboration with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), and the IP for Green Innovators initiative in partnership with the Nigeria Climate Innovation Center, Lagos. He expressed WIPO’s willingness to co-design projects and training programs with NOTAP to ensure that intellectual property is firmly rooted in Nigeria.
In her contributions, Mrs. Carol Annie-Osuagwu, Director of the Technology Acquisition and Research Coordination department at NOTAP, emphasized the need for specialized training in IP and Patent Drafting and Specification for NOTAP officials. She noted that while NOTAP has successfully established 65 IPTTOs across the country, there is a growing demand from universities and research institutes for more IPTTOs, which the office cannot currently accommodate due to limited funding.
Mrs. Annie-Osuagwu added that the increased awareness of IP through NOTAP’s programs has led to a rise in patents from universities and research institutes, further underscoring the need for continued collaboration with WIPO.
The visit by the new Director General of NOTAP to the WIPO Nigeria office has indeed revitalized the collaboration between the two organizations, setting the stage for a renewed commitment to fostering a culture of innovation and inventiveness in Nigeria.
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