Model Intellectual Property (IP) For Nigerian Universities

Public Presentation of Model Intellectual Property Policy By The National Copyright Commission And The Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities.

The Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities in collaboration with the National Copyright Commission (NCC) and the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) with the support of the National Universities Commission (NUC) presented a Model Intellectual Property Policy document for Nigerian Universities. The objective is to promote, sustain utilisation and better management of IP in our University system.

The Chairman, Professor Samuel Gowon Edomiekumo in his welcome remarks said the vital part of this document is how to accommodate expressions of Folklore, Traditional Knowledge and Generic Resources in our IP Policy document.

He elucidated that the Intellectual Property became the focal point of deliberation given its essential role in the academic operations of universities in particular and the principal role of ideas in a knowledge driven economy and society.

Prof. Edoumiekumo said: “Following today’s presentation, we expect our universities to develop their policies based on their particular operating environment and upload their final senate copies to the WIPO portal for global access.”

The Chairman, Governing Board of the Nigerian Copyright Commission, Professor Animi Esther Syvanus-Pepple in her opening remarks said the development of this document will raise the ranking of Nigerian Universities and provide additional sources of revenue for sustainable development of the education sector.

Inscribing that Nigeria has 217 Universities but less that 20 of them have functional IP policies.

The distinguished Professor Ruth Okediji, a Professor of Law at the Harvard Law School U.S delivered her keynote address on “Building an Innovation Ecosystem for Development”

Prof. Okediji commended the document as a remarkable one, taking into note that the Nigerian Universities are taking the lead on the development of a technological infrastructure for the country.

Dr. Dan-Azumi M. Ibrahim, the Director General, National Office of Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) in his goodwill speech stated that Nigerians have started exporting software to other African countries. This development is to aim gradually phase out imported technology.

The Honourable Minister of Education Mallam Adamu Adamu, who was highly represented by the Deputy Director, University Education Department Federal Ministry of Education, Muhammad Sidi-Ali in his goodwill message highlighted the objective of the project as one “To provide uniform guide in the formation of Intellectual Property Policies by Educational Institutions to support the scholarly activities of such Institutions, and enable them benefit from outputs of Innovative Researches for socio-economic development of our Nation.’’

You can download the pdf of the Model Intellectual Property (IP) For Nigerian Universities below: