Patent Registration Fees for Technology Innovators to be covered by the Nigerian Government

Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu (Guardian)

The Nigerian Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, has stated that the nation's government will henceforth financially support technology inventors seeking to register new patents. At a training workshop on intellectual property rights for CEOs of Ministry Parastatals in Abuja, he highlighted the problem of poverty faced by many investors which limits the number of patents that are registered and consequently the nation's development. According to Dr.Onu, helping to pay for the registration of the patents will help 'safeguard their intellectual property and improve the industrialisation drive of the government.'  He also stated that:

"To encourage more Nigerians to tread the path of innovation and invention, we will from now onward help inventors pay for their patents. Let them just bring their works to the ministry and we will check. If we are satisfied with the originality, we will pay for the patents".  (via Daily Trust)

The Minister also identified Science and Technology as a 'missing link' in Nigeria's development and the desire of the Ministry to ensure the commercialisation of research findings and improvement of the industrialisation drive which will strengthen the middle class. A similar perspective was shared by the Director General of National Office Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), Dr Dan Azumi Ibrahim, about the negative economical effects of Nigeria's 'weak patent culture'.

At an earlier event, he had stated that “We want to make sure that our inventors protect their intellectual property, so that they can make money out of it. That is what would attract more people to go into invention. If Bill Gates could be the richest man in the world through invention, then we need people like Bill Gates in Nigeria...The missing link in our development is science and technology. If we put enough energy into it, we would not depend on other countries and if we can meet our needs locally, the nation’s economy would be strengthened.” (via Guardian)

The approach by the Ministry of Science and Technology is welcomed as it will encourage innovators, especially those in universities and Colleges of Science and Technology to take advantage of the opportunity to register patents. More patents in the country, will ultimately lead to greater technological advancements and international collaborations. However, it is recommended that the registration process be simplified and made more effective. Patent applications still take up to a year or more. Despite the introduction of the online registration process, there are still administrative issues which necessitate follow up at the Registry to process the application manually. Revamping the registration process and reviewing the legal regime for protection will also restore the public's confidence in the system and encourage more innovation and registration of patents.