The National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) and the Nigerian Copyright Commission have agreed to work together to formulate a functional national policy on Intellectual Property (IP).
According to the two agencies, a functional IP would encourage market and demand-driven research in the country.
The arrangement was brought to the fore when the management of the commission led by the Director- General, Mr. John Asien, paid a courtesy call on the Director-General of NOTAP, Dr. DanAzumi Mohammed Ibrahim recently in Abuja.
In his welcome address, the NOTAP boss insisted that Nigeria needs to develop its own local technologies as it can no longer continue to depend on foreign technology.
With its mandate of regulating the inflow of foreign technology through the registration of technology transfer agreements, assist in development, promotion of indigenous technologies, Dr. Ibrahim said the country spends so much to import foreign technology.
Citing Japan as an example, the DG noted that global emphasis has shifted from resource based to knowledge based economy saying that “knowledge rules the world”.
According to him, Japan has developed to become one of the world’s technology superpowers based on its inventive and innovative prowess even though it does not have a quarter of the natural resources that Nigeria has.
The DG further revealed that owing to the need to chart a strategic course in Nigeria’s technological development, NOTAP in collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in 2006 kick-started the demystification of technology through establishment of Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Offices (IPTTOs) in some Nigerian knowledge Institutions.
He added that the five IPTTOs were established as a test case with the agency establishing 43 other IPPTOs across the country.
Also speaking, the Director General of NCC, said the visit was to rekindle the relationship between the two agencies as no agency can fully actualize its mandate without collaboration.
He said the establishment of IPTTOs in some Nigerian Universities and Polytechnics by NOTAP was a strategic initiative that will change the country’s narrative on it shortcoming in technology.
He however expressed concern that some of the established IPTTOs are already working without a functional Intellectual Property Policy.
