The National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) has reaffirmed its commitment to fostering technology innovation and protecting intellectual property rights in Nigeria through a strategic collaboration with the Patents and Designs Registry in the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.
This was highlighted during a courtesy visit by the Director and Head of Patents and Designs Registry, Mrs. Jane Igwe, and her team to the Director General of the NBTI, Dr. Kazeem Raji at the Board’s headquarters in Abuja.
A statement by NBTI’s Assistant Director, Head, Public Relations, Reuben Shagu made available to LEADERSHIP said the visit marked a significant milestone in strengthening the partnership between both institutions, with a firm commitment to establishing a Technology Innovation Support Centre (TISC) at NBTI.
Speaking during the visit, Mrs. Igwe emphasised the crucial role of the Patents and Designs Registry in safeguarding the intellectual property of Nigerian inventors and innovators, including grassroots entrepreneurs.
She highlighted the importance of TISC, an initiative brought to Nigeria by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), which provides inventors with access to technology information, existing patents, and expired patents that can serve as building blocks for further innovation.
Igwe further noted that such centres have been established in research institutes and are essential in driving technological breakthroughs.
In his response, the Director General/CEO of NBTI, Dr. Raji, expressed his excitement about the establishment of the Technology Innovation Support Centre at NBTI. He reiterated that NBTI serves as the warehouse for all technologies and a home for technology-driven entrepreneurship, nurturing innovators from ideation to commercialisation.
Raji also praised President Bola Tinubu for his visionary leadership and bold economic policies, including Nigeria’s partnership with the BRICS bloc, which positions the country as a leading force in manufacturing, technology, innovation and industrialisation.
He emphasised that achieving the President’s target of a $1 trillion economy and enhancing Nigeria’s GDP through entrepreneurship and industrial growth requires collective effort from all stakeholders.
“Nigerians are highly intelligent and resourceful, and the materials needed to grow our economy are readily available. The narrative must change, and we, as a nation, must take responsibility for our development. The prosperity that Mr. President envisions lies in entrepreneurial skills, technological innovation, and industrial growth,” Dr. Raji stated.
He further stressed the need for strong advocacy and stakeholders’ engagement to educate Nigerians on the importance of patenting their inventions and innovations. This, he noted, will protect intellectual property, prevent exploitation, and promote economic prosperity. With a vast network of successful entrepreneurs nurtured through NBTI’s incubation programme, he said, the agency remains committed to empowering businesses and ensuring that Nigerian startups, innovators and tech-entrepreneurs receive the necessary support in branding, patenting, packaging, and quality enhancement of their products.
“This collaboration between NBTI and the Patents and Designs Registry marks a new era in promoting technology innovation, protecting intellectual property, and driving economic growth in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu Ahmed Tinubu,” Raji said.
