As part of efforts to enable a knowledge – based economy, Nigeria has recorded significant progress in the number of patents granted investors and innovators.
The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, disclosed this at a lecture he gave to the course 26 of the National Defence College (NDC), in Abuja on Monday.
According to the Minister, since 2015 the number of patents rose from a mere 6 to 38 as at October24, 2017.
This ,he added, is an indication of the effectiveness of innovation in the development of the country.
Dr Onu said that the Ministry is leapfrogging Science and Technology from where it was in the 60’s to enviable heights.
According to the Minister, these are also clear evidence of developments and achievements in the Ministry, within the short period of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
“It is believed that by the end of 2017, the number of patents acquired through NOTAP could get to as much as 48”. The progress he said is remarkable, as the number of patents is a good indicator of the effectiveness of research and innovation in the development of the nation.
Dr Onu said because of the numerous achievements recorded by the Ministry through its Agencies, he has instituted a competition among the 17 Agencies of the Ministry, with the aim of encouraging healthy competition among them with regards to the generation of patents to further encourage research and innovation.
This, he said, is necessary to stimulate the development of indigenous technology and make Science Technology and Innovation an important instrument for national development.
The Minister said his belief that rewards system used to encourage competition for the promotion of excellence and achievements would culminate in a success story for the Ministry.
