LABTOP wins maiden IPPTO award

In a resounding triumph for innovation and technological advancement, the Laboratory-to-Product (LABTOP) Centre, University of Ilorin, has emerged the winner of the third position at the inaugural Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Offices (IPTTO) awards in Nigeria. The University was awarded a cash prize of N200,000 for securing the position.

The ceremony, organised by the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) under the Federal Ministry of Innovation Science and Technology (FMIST), took place in Abuja penultimate Wednesday, (January 31, 2024.

While briefing the Vice Chancellor in his office during a courtesy call last Monday (February 5, 2024), the Director of LABTOP, Prof. Mohammed Jimoh Saka, disclosed that NOTAP recognised the institutions that are doing well in the area of transforming research output to finished products in order to fast track the country’s economic development.

Prof. Saka said that the competition, which culminated into the award, saw the participation of 48 institutions, including universities and polytechnics across Nigeria. He explained that NOTAP employed a rigorous evaluation process, utilising questionnaires, campus visitations, and a comprehensive assessment of various activities to rate the winners, with a particular focus on the universities’ involvement in training feasibility.

Prof. Saka explained that Unilorin’s success could be attributed not only to the number of patents held but also to the institution’s dedication to feasibility studies. He noted that other universities with more patents did not receive the same recognition, showcasing the uniqueness of Unilorin’s approach.

The Director commended the Vice Chancellor for providing extensive training opportunities since assuming office, fostering interaction with NOTAP on science and technology. He also highlighted the active engagement with students through a dedicated student wing, contributing significantly to the centre’s success.

The Director of LABTOP, however, noted that the Vice Chancellor had initiated a comprehensive strategy to position Unilorin for the top spot in the next awards. He said the strategy includes providing a state-of-the-art office, bolstering manpower, intensifying the university’s commercialisation efforts, and establishing valuable connections with industries within and outside the country.

In response to the University’s successes at the Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Offices (IPTTO) awards, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Egbewole, congratulated the LABTOP Director and his team for doing the university proud.

However, he expressed the need to expedite the commercialisation of the university’s extensive patent portfolio, saying that it is imperative to translate all innovative research outputs into tangible products for the benefit of the society.

The Vice Chancellor also directed  the LABTOP Centre to proactively seek further collaborations with industries both within and beyond the state who are capable of leveraging the university’s patented technologies, in order to ultimately bring about positive transformations for the wider society.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Director of LABTOP, Dr George Adeniyi, said that the university’s management is actively working to fortify and motivate the centre to propel the University of Ilorin’s research endeavours to new heights. According to him, the centre is planning to rollout at least one product annually from its impressive portfolio of over 20 patents.

While explaining that there are concerted efforts to achieve this feat, Dr Adeniyi said that the objective is not only to innovate but also to contribute meaningfully to the community by addressing specific needs.

To ensure the relevance and effectiveness of these products, he opined that the LABTOP Centre is placing a strong emphasis on evaluating societal needs and aligning research priorities accordingly.

Dr Adeniyi emphasised the abundance of local challenges in the region that demand technological attention, adding that the centre is committed to leveraging its expertise to address these issues.

Among the notable patents held by Unilorin is the biolistic composite, which has garnered attention from the Nigerian Army. Dr Adeniyi revealed that there is a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in place to develop this technology to a commercial level. However, he lamented that bureaucratic challenges had momentarily slowed down the process.

Other members of the LABTOP team who came to present the award to the Vice Chancellor were the Deputy Director LABTOP, Dr M. O. Oloyede, and the Centre’s Lab Attendant, Mrs Bebeyi Folashade. Also in the team was the President of Intellectual Property Club (IP Club), University of Ilorin, Mr James Titiloye and the Director of Research II of IP Club, Mr Emanuel Oluwatobi Oyewumi.