• NBTI
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• WIPO

NBTI AND WIPO FORGE PARTNERSHIP TO BOOST NIGERIA’S INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM

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  CapitalTimesNews / 1 week
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• 2 min read

The National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) has partnered with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to strengthen Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem. This strategic move aims to protect intellectual property, enhance innovation, and empower entrepreneurship nationwide. NBTI’s Director General, Dr. Kazeem Kolawole Raji, met with WIPO’s Country Director, Dr. Tobi Moody, at the United Nations Office in Abuja to chart a collaborative path. Dr. Raji emphasized NBTI’s pivotal role as Nigeria’s technology warehouse, championing technology incubation as a key engine for industrialization, job creation, and youth empowerment. Dr. Raji outlined NBTI’s ambitious agenda, which includes establishing Technology Innovation Support Centres across all NBTI offices, rolling out Renewed Hope Technology Hubs in each geopolitical zone, and launching Technology Incubation Centres in all 774 local government areas. These initiatives align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for inclusive and innovation-driven growth. The partnership aims to commercialize over 5,000 patents and incubate more than 500,000 startups by 2030. Key areas of collaboration include providing innovators with access to high-quality IP services, assisting incubatees in obtaining patents, trademarks, and copyrights, and supporting research and development commercialization. Dr. Moody commended NBTI’s clear vision and ongoing impact on Nigeria’s innovation space. “We need to enhance IP literacy among NBTI staff and improve branding and standardization of Nigerian products to increase global appeal,” he stated. WIPO expressed strong support for the partnership, reaffirming its readiness to assist in implementing IP policies and advancing Nigeria’s journey toward an innovation-led economy. This landmark collaboration is set to unlock Nigeria’s vast innovation potential, protecting intellectual property, fostering entrepreneurship, and catalyzing sustainable economic growth. Dr. Raji reaffirmed NBTI’s commitment to transforming the country’s abundant natural resources into globally competitive, exportable products, leveraging the ingenuity and resilience of Nigerians. Dr. Raji’s vision for Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem is clear: to make it a hub for entrepreneurship and economic growth. Dr. Raji’s leadership will be instrumental in driving this initiative forward.