The Federal Government, through the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion, has successfully secured a total of 340 patent certificates for inventors and researchers in Nigeria since 2010.
This was announced by the Minister of the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, during the official presentation of patent certificates to researchers and inventors on Monday in Abuja.
According to Investopedia, “a patent is the granting of a property right by an approving authority to an inventor. This grant provides the inventor exclusive rights to the patented process, design, or invention for a designated period in exchange for a comprehensive disclosure of the invention.”
In his keynote address, Nnaji emphasised the importance of intellectual property and innovation in driving the nation’s industrialisation and economic growth.
He stated, “I am reliably informed that from 2010 to date, NOTAP has secured about 340 patent certificates for inventors and researchers of tertiary and research institutes and individuals. This number includes the 18 certificates to be presented today.”
The minister underscored the vital role that researchers play in the nation’s development, noting that technological innovation has become central to global power structures.
He also highlighted the importance of protecting intellectual property in transforming research into products and services that could contribute to the country’s economic prosperity.