The Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI), University of Ibadan (UI) has presented seven certificates of registration of patents to innovators at a ceremony held on the Senate Chambers of the university on Monday in Ibadan. Two acceptance letters for patents were also presented.
The presentation of certificates was done by the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Abel Idowu Olayinka.
“This is very important to us because the vision of the university is to be a world-class institution for academic excellence, but geared towards meeting societal needs,” he said.
“There is so much unemployment. If there are ways in which our research effort can contribute towards solving the unemployment problem, then it makes us more relevant to the society. Some our colleagues have done useful work that can be patented. These initiatives can help to create employment, and it makes us more relevant to society.”
According to the VC, the university has received some patents for intellectual property in the past. However, this is the first time such a ceremony is taking place due to the large number of patents that have been issued at a go.
Director of CEI, Professor Oyedunni Arulogun, explained that “CEI is an arm of the university that promotes university-private sector collaboration, teaching and research in entrepreneurship and innovation, and the direct relevance of the university to its environment and society at large.
“As part of its mandate, CEI protects the intellectual property of researchers for both staff and students of the University of Ibadan.”
The director said CEI also processes patent approval for members of the university community and the public at the Patent Registry in Abuja.
She added that the centre also advises on the commercialisation of approved patents.
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The works for which certificates were presented include: “Process of fabrication of yam-pounding machine using a T-shaped hammer” by Professor Abdulganiy Olayinka Raji and Kazeem Olaniyi Oriola, and “Adaptable skull stand” by Dr Adeola Adenike Olusanya and Dr Bolutife Ayokunnu Olusanya.
Also included are: “Accented character-based captcha code generation” by Omowamiwa Taiwo Olanrewaju and Oluwaseyitanfimi Osunade, and “Development of filtration and bioremediation techniques for the decontamination of bitumen-polluted water” by Eganoosi Esme Atojunere, Professor Kolawole Ogedengbe and Professor Emmanuel Babajide Lucas.
Others are “Development of low-cost umbrella rainwater harvester for improved water supply and sanitary practices for road side traders” by Professor M.K.C Sridhar, Dr T.B Hammed and Mr O.B Fawole; “Process and Method of Producing Bio-Gel from Moringa a renewable energy source,” a waste-to-energy initiative by Grace Oluwatoye and Lifebuilders, and “A technology for the processing of hog plum (spodia mombin linn) seed kernel into bio available calcium rich puffs” by G.L Arueya and O.O Onibaba.