FG to establish intellectual property and technology transfer office at AE-FUNAI

By Anthony Iwuoma

The Federal Government has promised to establish an Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Office (IPPTO) at Alex Ekwueme Federal University   Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State.

This hint was dropped recently by the Honourable Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu during the inauguration of an upgraded Chemical Engineering Laboratory equipped through an industrial collaboration between the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) and PZ Cussons in the University.

The minister further decried the use of alternative to practical in teaching students, stressing that without practical exposures students would only have head-knowledge which cannot engineer industrialization.

“We want Nigeria to become a knowledge-based and innovative society. And I believe that the industry and the government will collaborate to achieving this noble goal”, he said.

The minister also used the opportunity to appeal to industries to show more interest in research and innovation through collaborative efforts with universities to develop the capacities of the citizens, in order to jump-start the development of the Nigerian economy.

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Also, speaking at the event, the Director- General of the National Office for Technological Acquisition and Promotion, Dr. Dan Azumi Ibrahim, noted that  government’s funding of universities in Nigeria was weak, hence the urgent need for collaborative efforts with industries to promote science, technology and innovation.

He explained that NOTAP is collaborating with the private sector to upgrade laboratories in Nigerian Universities  in order to make available to  them relevant equipment as the country moves from a  resource-based to a knowledge-based economy.

Ibrahim maintained that for the nation to achieve the dream, it must build the capacities of its citizens, improve its facilities and enunciate workable policies, adding that the Nigerian society cannot move to the next level without realising the synergy between the three critical factors.

“This country requires research centres that will engender research and development needed for its transformation.

“The synergy between industries and researchers are of paramount importance especially now that Nigeria is in a hurry to develop. Research and development go hand-in-hand and are pivotal to Nigeria Nigeria’s. This is essentially why the agency has been supporting and sponsoring qualified candidates in this regard,” he concluded.

The Managing Director/CEO PZ Cussons Nig. Plc, Mr. Christos Glannopoulos, in his submission, affirmed that the commissioning of the upgraded chemical laboratory in the university marked another historic landmark in its partnership with NOTAP in their drive to promote quality education in Nigeria.

“We are here today because we did it somewhere else like Calabar, Yola, Zaria and we know that what is good for others is also good for this part of Nigeria,”  he said.

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Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba, noted that the upgraded Chemical Engineering Laboratory would improve the academic and research standings of the students and staff in the institution’s commitment towards grooming globally-competitive and practical-oriented scientists and engineers, who will contribute to the development of the country in particular and the world at large.

He maintained that though the university is young;, it is global-minded and forward-looking, adding it takes research seriously.

“We have maintained that results of all research works sponsored by the university should not just adorn library shelves, but must be made available to strategic stakeholders relevant to the research.

“This has really galvanised research activities among academic staff of the university, enabling us also to provide critical data to government and industries to make informed decisions,” the Nwajiuba stated.

While thanking the Ministry of Science and Technology for their efforts geared towards jump-starting Nigerian economic development through science, technology and innovation; NOTAP and PZ Cusson for upgrading the Chemical Engineering laboratory of the university; the vice-chancellor also used the opportunity to call for more support and collaborations from agencies of the Federal Government and the organised private sector for speedy development of the university.