The Federal Government has issued a strict directive to all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). They must now prioritize indigenous companies and locally developed technologies in all science and engineering projects.
This move aims to enforce local content across the non-oil economy. The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Kingsley Udeh, issued the directive in Abuja on Tuesday. The announcement coincided with the presentation of 13 patent certificates to Nigerian inventors.
Enforcing Executive Order 5
Minister Udeh stated that the government has mobilized the implementation team for Presidential Executive Order 5. This team will work with the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) and the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
Their mandate is clear: execute a comprehensive framework to institutionalize local content across the non-oil and gas sectors. Udeh emphasized that the government is moving the Order from “policy aspiration” to an “enforceable economic reality.”
“The future will not be shaped by nations with the most oil, but by those with the best ideas,” Udeh said.
The Strategic Framework
The new framework provides clear guidelines. It aims to foster development in key sectors by prioritizing local expertise. These sectors include:
- Advanced manufacturing
- Construction
- Digital infrastructure
- Renewable energy
Consequently, the guidelines require MDAs to prioritize Nigerian professional companies and locally sourced materials in all public projects.
From Patents to Products
Udeh challenged the 13 awardees to ensure their new patents translate into viable industries. He insisted that the administration will no longer celebrate inventions that simply end up on shelves.
“A patent is a promise, not a product. Under my leadership, we will move beyond recognition to active commercialization,” he stated.
To achieve this, the Ministry and NOTAP announced plans to provide tailored support. They will link inventors directly with partners capable of taking their innovations to the market.
Strengthening the Ecosystem
Earlier, NOTAP Director-General Obiageli Amadiobi described the event as a milestone. She noted that the agency has facilitated more than 400 patents at no cost to inventors since its inception.
She added that NOTAP is establishing Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Offices in universities. This initiative encourages academia to focus on problem-solving research rather than purely theoretical work.
“We cannot keep importing technologies from outside. Today’s patents represent homegrown solutions capable of meeting industrial needs,” she said.
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