The National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) has awarded 393 patents since its inception in 2016, its director-general, DanAzumi Ibrahim, said on Tuesday in Abuja.

Mr Ibrahim disclosed that some of the patents awarded were on innovations in renewable energy, engineering, military hardware, and election monitoring.

“NOTAP, in the course of discharging one of its responsibilities of encouraging development of indigenous technologies, noted the weak intellectual property culture in the Nigerian knowledge system,” stated the director-general. “This observation encouraged NOTAP to go into partnership with the Patent and Design Registry and Commercial Law departments of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.”

Mr Ibrahim explained that the synergy with the departments helped in creating intellectual property awareness and patent support services for Nigerian researchers in the country.

He added, “Through this, NOTAP assisted in processing and filing their claims at no cost, as the office pays the patenting fees.’’

According to the NOTAP director-general, the agency is responsible for regulating the inflow of foreign technologies into the country and encouraging the development of indigenous technologies.

Mr Ibrahim encouraged researchers across the globe to strive for patentable research and development results that can attract investments and subsequently license them for commercialisation and economic benefits.

The NOTAP boss said for any nation to develop and maximise its potential, it must have a vibrant science, technology and innovation ecosystem that encourages demand-driven research for economic sustenance.

“This will lead to acquiring more patents by deserving Nigerian inventors and innovators who, through their research undertakings, have developed patentable research results,” he stressed.

(NAN)