Nigeria Real Estate Hub Latest news in Nigeria real estate, commercial real estate and investment advice
Federal Government on Tuesday said it was ready to increase intellectual property rights toward industrialisation of the nation.
Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, the Minister of Science and Technology, made the assertion when he addressed journalists at a world press conference on the forthcoming Science, Technology and Innovation Expo scheduled to hold from March 5 to March 9.
According to him, the effort will be able to produce many of the things the country needs.
Onu said: “We will continue to ensure that our intellectual property rights are protected. This will help ensuring that our effort toward industrialisation will succeed and remain irreversible to march Nigeria to true greatness.
“Through this effort, we will be able to produce many of the things we need in Nigeria. This will help us create jobs and abundant wealth as well as reduce poverty among Nigerians.
“Our effort at research and innovation is working irrespective of paucity of fund. In 2015, the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion registered six patents but in 2016, NOTAP registered 16 patents.
“By, 2017, patents registered through the assistance of NOTAP rose to 50, which is more than three times what we had year before.”
He said that the number of patents produced by a nation gave a clear idea of the progress the nation was making in research and innovation.
According to him, one of the ministry’s research products, a high-density nutrient biscuit produced by NASCO Food Ltd, Jos, is now available in the open market for the use of both adults and children.
The minister said that some finished products of inventions in the area of health care delivery had been taken over for commercialisation by the giant pharmaceutical company, May and Baker.
He said Nigeria, as a nation could not be rich while many Nigerians were still poor.
He said the theme of the Expo 2018 would be “Fast tracking Sustainable Development of Nigeria through Science and Technology”.
Onu said the success achieved at the 2017 edition of the Science, Technology and Innovation Expo held from April 3 to April 7, 2017 had further spurred the interest of the investors to commercialise research and development results to aid diversification of the economy.
Onu said: “Expo 2018 will build upon the objectives of the foregoing Expo of 2017.”
According to him, objectives of the 2018 edition will include follow-up on Memorandum of Understandings signed as a result of the previous expo and promoting collaborations among research institutions and researchers/inventors.
He said that the event would encourage interactions between researchers and investors with a view to commercialising research results, inventions and innovations from Nigeria’s research and tertiary institutions.
The minister said the Expo 2018 would facilitate growth of indigenous manufacturing hinged on Science, Technology and Innovation as well as generally promoting STI culture in Nigeria.
He said: “Fast tracking the implementation of the National Science, Technology and Innovation Road Map -2030 to bring to fore capabilities of Nigerian Scientists, Engineers, and Inventors/Innovators in contributing to economic diversification of Nigeria.”
The ministry said the 2018 edition of the Technology and Innovation Expo would feature exhibitions of research and development results, inventions, innovations, STI Products/Services.
Others are: researchers/investors forum, technical sessions on emerging issues, Special Days for States, conglomerates, awards of prizes, certificates to outstanding exhibitors and researchers.
Credit: The Eagle