Minister Stresses Need To Protect Intellectual Property
 9th NOV 2006

The Minister of Science and Technology, Prof. Turner Isoun has said that the national intellectual development policy was to engender the economic advancement of the country.

Isoun said recently in Abuja at the opening of a three-day workshop on intellectual property for tertiary institutions, that the policy would invigorate the economy by making it more competitive in the global market.

This, he said, necessitated the merger of the Patent and Trade mark registry and the Nigeria Copyright Commission with the National Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), to form the Nigeria Intellectual Property Organisation (NIPO).

The minister who was represented by Dr Umar Pindar, a director in the ministry, said President Obasanjo had also mandated the ministry to review the activities of all research institutions in the country every two years.

He said this was to ensure that their activities conform to the national policy, and was in line with the economic direction of the country.

''Intellectual property right is a critical tool for industrial and economic growth, market dominance and technological superiority of the country,'' he said.

Isoun said the policy, which was in line with the Millennium Development Goal, would create new jobs, encourage competitiveness and investment.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop was for 20 selected tertiary institutions in the country.

It is expected to provide the participants with an insight on how to handle problems related to the protection and exploitation of intellectual property generated by the institutions.

The institutions were also expected to open an Intellectual Property Technology Transfer office in collaboration with the National Office for Technology Acquisition Promotion (NOTAP).

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