By Dwelleth Morountodun
he National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) and the
Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC)
are working in synergy to formulate a
functional National Policy on Intellectual Property (IP) to encourage market
and demand-driven research in the country.
The arrangement was brought to the table when the Director General of NCC, Mr. John
Asien and his Management team paid a courtesy call on the Director General of
NOTAP, Dr. DanAzumi Ibrahim, recently in his Abuja corporate Office.
NOTAP’s DG while welcoming the visitors said NOTAP was established primarily to
regulate the inflow of foreign technology through the registration of
technology transfer agreements and at the same time, assist in development and
promotion of indigenous technologies.
According to Mr. Raymond Onyenezi Ogbu, acting head of Media and Publicity NOTAP, said the DG, noticed that Nigeria expends a
lot of resources through the importation of foreign technology; and for a
country that aspires to be one of the biggest economies by 20:20; it cannot
continue to depend on foreign technology hence the need to develop local
technologies.
He referred to the case of Japan, which he noted does not have one quarter of the natural resources that Nigeria has but Japan has developed to become one of the world’s technology superpowers based on her inventive and innovative prowess.
He added that the global emphasis has been shifted from resource based to knowledge based economy because according to him, “knowledge rules the world”.
The DG revealed that owing to the need to clearly chart a strategic course towards
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.
Also
speaking the DG of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), Mr. John Asien, said
their visit was to reinvigorate the relationship between the two establishments
as no agency can fully actualize its mandate without collaborating with another.
He
said the establishment of IPTTOs in some Nigerian Universities and Polytechnics
by NOTAP was a strategic step that could change Nigeria’s narrative on
technology lack. He however expressed some concern over the fact that some of
the established IPTTOs are already working without a functional Intellectual
Property Policy. He added that his agency is desirous of collaborating with
NOTAP to ensure the actualization of IP policies in Nigeria’s knowledge
institutions
Asien further stated that it was disturbing to note that Nigeria does not have a
functional National IP policy and strategy that could facilitate the
development of Intellectual Property culture and protection in the country,
adding that the World Intellectual Property Organization, and other relevant IP
related organizations will be glad to support the initiative of formulating a
National IP policy for Nigeria.
The two CEOs agreed on the need to establish a
Joint committee comprising of selected officials of both establishments that
will serve as a platform to drive the process of engaging other stakeholders
towards the formulation and adoption of a National IP Policy. The said
Committee is expected to submit a draft IP policy for consideration by the
Management of the two agencies.