The Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna in Niger State says it will continue to support its members who embark on research to enable them to come up with cutting-edge findings that will have a direct impact on the community.
Vice Chancellor of the University (VC), Prof Faruk Adamu Kuta stated this while declaring opened a Technology Transfer And Commercialisation Workshop organised by the Africa Centre Of Excellence For Mycotoxin And Food Safety in collaboration with Intellectual Property And Technology Transfer Office held at the Minna main campus, Gidan kwanọ.
Represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academics, Prof. Abdullahi Mohammed, the VC explained that to achieve this goal, FUT Minna had established an annual interaction with the institution’s leading researchers.
He said during these events, they present awards to outstanding researchers to motivate them and acknowledge that their contributions to research growth and development were recognized.
According to him, if they want their research to have a community impact, the output of their research should not end at conference attendance or publication in journals, instead, the research should be registered and commercialized so that the Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna can claim ownership and royalties as well.
Prof. Faruk Adamu Kuta, however, maintained that the University has become second among universities in Nigeria for TETFUND research grants and they are gearing up to become the highest grant-winning institution in Nigeria, given the dedicated researchers at FUT Minna in Niger State.
In his remarks, the Coordinator of the Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Office at FUT Minna, Prof. Jimoh Tijjani, said the workshop was in line with the World Intellectual Property Organization and the Technology Transfer Office in Nigeria to showcase viable products produced by the institution’s staff, students, and researchers that have a direct impact on the community.
Prof Jimoh explained that the number of patented products produced last year was seven but have increased to thirteen this year due to increased in awareness while four more are still under review with Patent Registry Abuja for necessary action.
Deputy Centre Leader African Centre Of Excellence For Mycotoxin And Food Safety Prof Hadiza Lami Mohammed said the Centre had taken a lot of products to the market such as the Teaching Aid, while other products that have been patented would also be taken to the market soon in keeping to their research mandate.
Project Officer Bank Of Industry Niger state office Mohammed Dikko Mohammed added that they are always ready to partner with individual or groups willing to support their mandate of industrialization to forge ahead.
COV/ALIYU LAWAL
