By Precious Mbaramah
In a decisive move to boost its Intellectual Property (IP) portfolio and drive innovation, the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) has organized a capacity-building workshop for its South-East and South-South State Coordinators. The training, held on September 10, 2025, at Christagon Hotel, Owerri, Imo State, was convened by the Directorate of Legal and Board Services (DLBS) in collaboration with the Patents and Designs Registry of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI).
The workshop focused on deepening participants’ understanding of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) , including patents, copyrights, trademarks, industrial designs, trade secrets, geographical indications, and logos with the goal of strengthening the Council’s ability to identify, protect, and leverage its research outcomes.
In her keynote address, Director of Legal and Board Services, Mrs. N.N. Keshi, emphasized the Council’s mandate to generate industry-focused research outputs, underscoring that such outputs qualify as intellectual property only when legally registered. “Intellectual Property is the currency, strength, and validator of any research institution,” she stated. “Without registration, our research has no legal standing. With it, we secure not just ownership, but also our place in the national innovation ecosystem.”
Mrs. Keshi disclosed that under the directive of the Director General/Chief Executive Officer, Professor Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, the Council is targeting a significant increase in its patent count, from 47 to 200, within the next four years. She noted that patents remain the most strategic IPR category for RMRDC, due to their requirement for industrial applicability, which aligns directly with the Council’s statutory objective of meeting the raw material needs of Nigeria’s industrial sector.
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Highlighting the Council’s leadership in this space, she revealed that RMRDC is the first government agency to develop and implement a formal Intellectual Property Policy a milestone recognized and commended by the FMITI. The Policy includes provisions for incentivizing innovation among staff and streamlining internal processes for identifying and registering IP.
The Registrar of Patents and Designs, Barrister (Mrs.) Jane Igwe, delivered a detailed presentation covering the fundamentals of IP identification, categorization, and legal protection. She was joined by Barrister Bright Onyebinanma of the same Registry, who walked participants through the structure of Nigeria’s patent system including eligibility criteria, legal rights conferred, patent lifespan, and the strategic advantages of registration.
In closing, the Director State Industrial Extension Services Department, Dr. (Mrs.) Edith Obi, delivered the vote of thanks. She commended the DG/CEO prof. Nnanyelugo Ike- Muonso and Council management for their visionary support, applauded the resource persons for their expert facilitation, and urged participants to replicate the training at their respective state offices. Dr. Obi further requested that video documentation of state-level dissemination efforts be submitted to headquarters for monitoring and evaluation.
The workshop marks a critical step in operationalizing RMRDC’s renewed commitment to IP-driven innovation and positions the Council to become a leading government institution in patents generation and technology commercialization in Nigeria.
