The Federal Government has directed all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to prioritise indigenous companies and locally developed technologies in science and engineering projects as part of efforts to enforce local content across the non-oil economy. The directive was issued by the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Kingsley Udeh, in Abuja during the official presentation of thirteen patent certificates to Nigerian inventors, facilitated by the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP).
Udeh said the Presidential Executive Order 5 implementation team, working with NOTAP, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and relevant MDAs, has been instructed to execute a comprehensive framework to institutionalize local content across Nigeria’s non-oil and gas sectors. “The future will not be shaped by nations with the most oil, but by those with the best ideas. We are now moving Executive Order 5 from policy aspiration into an enforceable economic reality that empowers our businesses, creates jobs, and builds a resilient, diversified economy,” he said.
The strategic framework provides clear guidelines for implementing Executive Order 5, as outlined in the approved Federal Government Gazette. It seeks to foster the development of new sectors across the economy, including advanced manufacturing, construction, digital infrastructure, and renewable energy. The framework ensures that Nigerian professional companies, locally sourced materials, and indigenous services are prioritised in all public projects and procurement involving science, engineering, and technology components. An amendment to the Executive Order is undergoing final review and is expected to receive presidential assent soon, making it legally binding.
Addressing the 13 patent awardees, which include a serving military officer, Udeh emphasised that patents must translate into viable industries rather than remain theoretical. “A patent is a promise, not a product. Under my leadership, we will move beyond recognition to active commercialization. Our goal is to ensure Nigerian inventors become Nigerian industries contributing to GDP,” he said. The Ministry and NOTAP will provide tailored support to link innovators directly with partners capable of taking their innovations to market. Udeh described the awardees as “the vanguard of Industry 5.0 in Nigeria” and outlined plans to strengthen collaboration between research institutions and industry, insisting that universities must operate aggressive commercial units rather than maintain purely academic archives.
NOTAP Director-General, Obiageli Amadiobi, described the event in Abuja as a milestone for Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem, noting that the agency has facilitated more than 400 patents at no cost to inventors since inception. She said NOTAP also supports the establishment of Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Offices in universities and research institutions, encouraging academia to focus on problem-solving research rather than theoretical studies. “We cannot keep importing technologies from outside. Today’s patents represent homegrown solutions capable of meeting industrial needs,” she said, adding that partnerships with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Patent Registry have strengthened IP protection for Nigerian innovators.
The move is part of the Federal Government’s broader strategy to reduce reliance on imported technology, empower Nigerian businesses, create jobs, and position the country as a competitive player in the global knowledge and innovation economy. The framework is expected to transform research outputs into commercially viable solutions, linking universities, research institutes, and private sector industries to drive industrialisation and sustainable development in Nigeria.
