In a strategic move to strengthen Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem, the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) is forging a transformative partnership with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). During a high-level meeting at the United Nations Office in Abuja, NBTI’s Director General, Dr. Kazeem Kolawole Raji, engaged with WIPO’s Country Director, Dr. Tobi Moody, to chart a collaborative path toward protecting intellectual property (IP), enhancing innovation, and empowering entrepreneurship nationwide.
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. He outlined NBTI’s ambitious agenda, which includes establishing Technology Innovation Support Centres (TISCs) across all NBTI offices, rolling out Renewed Hope Technology Hubs in each geopolitical zone, and launching Technology Incubation Centres (TICs) in all 774 local government areas. These initiatives are fully aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for inclusive and innovation-driven growth.
With Nigeria’s population surpassing 237 million, Dr. Raji reaffirmed NBTI’s commitment to transforming the country’s abundant natural resources into globally competitive, exportable products. He revealed plans to commercialize over 5,000 patents and incubate more than 500,000 startups by 2030, leveraging the ingenuity and resilience of Nigerians.
Key areas of proposed collaboration between NBTI and WIPO include:
- Establishment of Technology Innovation Support Centres (TISCs): To provide innovators with access to high-quality IP services and support.
- IP Protection and Commercialization: Assisting incubatees in obtaining patents, trademarks, and copyrights to secure their innovations.
- Support for R&D Commercialization: Helping turn indigenous technologies into market-ready products through WIPO-backed research and product development support.
- Entrepreneurship Development: Offering IP awareness programmes, mentorship, workshops, and access to local and international funding for startups and SMEs.
- Policy and Regulatory Framework: Co-developing national IP, branding, and marketing policies to boost competitiveness.
- Technology Transfer: Facilitating the movement of innovations from research institutions to the marketplace.
- Market Research and Business Development: Conducting market analysis and providing guidance in business planning, marketing, and financing.
- Product Certification: Supporting compliance with international product standards to improve global market access.
Dr. Moody commended NBTI’s clear vision and ongoing impact on Nigeria’s innovation space. He stressed the importance of enhancing IP literacy among NBTI staff and called for better branding and standardization of Nigerian products to increase global appeal.
WIPO expressed strong support for the partnership, reaffirming its readiness to assist in implementing IP policies, improving product certification, and advancing Nigeria’s journey toward an innovation-led economy.
This landmark collaboration is set to unlock Nigeria’s vast innovation potential by protecting intellectual property, fostering entrepreneurship, and catalyzing sustainable economic growth.
Olajumoke David
Chief Information and Public Relations Officer
National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), Abuja
