ABU’s Directorate of Research and Innovation organises workshop on intellectual property and technology transfer
The Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Office (IPTTO) of the Directorate of Research and Innovation, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, has organised a workshop on intellectual property and technology transfer for researchers and students.
The workshop took place at the Assembly Hall, Main Campus, Samaru Zaria.
Speaking at the occasion, the Director, Directorate of Research and Innovation (DRI), Prof. Joy J. Maina, called for collaborative researches between the natural sciences and social sciences to fill the missing link.
The Director stated that most of the researches the University presented at the recent Times Higher Education (THE) ranking are science based, hence the need for the arts and humanities to make their researches more visible.
Prof. Maina disclosed that part of the mandate of the Directorate is to safeguard the intellectual property of research conducted by staff and students.
In a paper, titled “Innovation in Genetically Modified Crops-Genome Editing, a professor of biotechnology with the University of Calabar, Prof. Valentine Ntui, argued that on the over expression of transgenes, isolation of genes from one specie, leads to introduction into a target specie under the influence of a powerful promoter.
On gene editing, Prof. Ntui disclosed that targeted and precise changes in the genome, that is genetic make up of an organism resulting to gene modifications or mutations using molecular scissors is called Nucleases. The nucleases, according to him, induce double stranded break.
Prof. Ntui asserted that on mediated genome editing, naturally-occurring, defense mechanism are found in a wide range of bacteria.
In another presentation, titled “Entrepreneurship in Academic Setting”, a professor of biochemistry with Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Prof. Sani Ibrahim, explained that academic entrepreneurship is the use of scientific research, creativity and innovation to create economic values.
Prof. Ibrahim noted that academic entrepreneurship involves students, faculty and researchers and can include formal activities, that is patenting or developing a spin-off, informal, that is consulting or joint research with industry partners and other activities, which is writing books for a general audience.
He said commercialization of research produced by universities constitute a core facet of academic entrepreneurship.
Prof. Ibrahim stated that academic entrepreneurship is framed by the economic and social mission of an Institution and its contribution to the social, economic and cultural development, stressing that it contributes to economic development and innovation by transferring research outcomes into commercial applications.
According to him, an academic entrepreneur is someone with niche expertise and a strong desire to use that expertise to make a difference in the world.
Delivering a lecture on Intellectual property and technology transfer, the Coordinator, Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Office (IPTTO), Directorate of Research and Innovation, (DRI), Ahmadu Bello University, Prof. Emmanuel O. Balogun, said that if one registers an intellectual property in Nigeria, it covers most African countries.
Prof. Balogun described intellectual property as an important document that should be aligned with the university development strategy.
He said it is a platform for development, innovation, protection and commercialization.
Prof. Balogun maintained that intellectual property is protected by patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret.
Featured at the event were round table discussions and questions and answers session.
The event was attended by the Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies, (SPGS), Prof. M.N Shuaibu, former Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic, Prof. Danladi Amodu Ameh, researchers and postgraduate students, among others.
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Public Affairs Directorate,
Office of the Vice-Chancellor,
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
(AHW)
Tuesday 3rd December, 2024.
