The National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) has commissioned the 69th Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Office (IPTTO) at Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri, as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s innovation pipeline and curb reliance on imported technologies.
The agency also said it will support IMSU researchers by facilitating patents for their inventions at no cost.
Speaking at the commissioning, Obiageli Amadiobi, director-general of NOTAP, said the agency’s drive to expand IPTTOs nationwide is central to improving Nigeria’s intellectual property culture and commercialisation capacity.
Amadiobi, an alumna of IMSU, said the facility would enhance the university’s research competitiveness by helping academics protect and translate their innovations into marketable products.
She noted that while NOTAP was originally established in the 1970s to regulate foreign technology inflow, the agency has increasingly shifted focus toward promoting locally developed technologies. According to her, weak intellectual property awareness across universities remains a major barrier to innovation-led growth.
“This IPTTO is the 69th we are establishing to build institutional capacity for research, patenting and technology transfer. We expect IMSU researchers to leverage it to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported technologies,” she said.
Amadiobi also urged female researchers to take advantage of NOTAP’s forthcoming incentive scheme designed to reward outstanding young women in science, technology and innovation.
Uchefula Chukwumaeze, vice-chancellor of IMSU, described the commissioning as a strategic boost to the university’s innovation ecosystem.
He said the university, which has recorded strong performances in national innovation contests, would deploy the IPTTO to drive more demand-driven research capable of generating economic value.
“We are committed to safeguarding and fully utilising this facility. Our researchers must now focus on producing outputs that translate into goods and services for society,” he said.
