FG to protect intellectual property of young entrepreneurs

The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu has reiterated Federal Government’s commitment to safeguard the intellectual property of young entrepreneurs in Nigeria.

Onu who spoke at the GenesysIGNITE 2017 startups conference in Enugu said his Ministry through the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), is addressing issues related to patent and intellectual property to safeguard investments and ideas of the young people.

While presenting $10,000 cheque to each of the three start-ups that won at the pitch sessions of the event, he said that it was high time various research and development results from universities were commercialised.

“Genesys is doing what the government has in mind with regards to youth development - capacity building, incubation, providing venture capitals. I can tell you that the Ministry will support this platform to ensure that the young people are given a space to express themselves and add value to the economy,” he added.

Speaking at the event with over 2000 start-ups drawn from Enugu state and its environs, former senate president, founder of Genesys Tech Hub, Mr Kingsley Eze said the event discussed technology trends that impact the region and proffer strategies for unearthing benefits in the various sectors of the Nigerian economy at large.

The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta who spoke through the Director of Public Affairs, Mr Tony Ojobo said, “Digital Access Programme (DAP) is being implemented by the regulator to equip secondary schools with internet connectivity and over 223 schools have benefited. Internet clouds are being provided in universities and polytechnics to improve digital literacy and application.”