Federal University of Technology Minna to commercialize research products.
By: Yahaya Zakka, Minna
Federal University of Technology FUT Minna says it would continue to support researchers in the university to enable them come up with findings that would have direct impact on the community.
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Faruk Adamu Kuta stated this while declaring opened a one day 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 FUT Minna, main campus, Gidan kwanọ.
Prof Faruk Adamu Kuta who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academics,Prof Abdullahi Mohammed,stated that in an effort by the University to achieve set target in research, FUT Minna has commenced dialogue with relevant research bodies to boost research findings of the institution annually .
According to him the university researchers have won several award of excellence and the institution is doing everything possible to motivate them to be more committed to their research work and to boost their moral towards contributing to the growth and development of the research work in the university.
He explained that the University is exploring all avenue to ensure that all research work that has direct bearing to the community does not end in the journal but fully show cased and commercialized so that the university can claim the royalty from the research out put.
In his remarks the Coordinator, Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer office FUT Minna Prof Jimoh Tijjani said the workshop is been organized in collaboration with the World Intellectual Property and Technology Transfers office in Nigeria to showcase tentable products that were produced by staff, students researchers of the institution that have direct impact on the community.
Prof Tijani explained that the number of research products produced last year was seven but have increased to thirteen this year due to increased in awareness and hard work of the researchers while four more research work are still under review with Patent Registry in Abuja for necessary action.
The Deputy Centre Leader,Africa Centre Of Excellence For Mycotoxin And Food Safety Prof Hadiza Lami Mohammed in an interview said the Centre has taken alot of products produced by the university to the market such as Teaching Aid, while other products that have been patented would soon be taken to the market in line with the research mandate of the university.
The Project Officer Bank Of Industry Niger state office, Mohammed Dikko Mohammed who also graced the opening ceremony as representative of the Bank stressed that the Bank is willing to partner with individual or groups to support their mandate of commercialization of various products that have community bearings.
He urged the university community to always approach the Bank of Industry to avail themselves with financial support grants that would enable them boost their research work and commercialization of their research products, he added.
