Amb. Mariam Katagum, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, says Nigerian youths are innovative and using their energy to create a better future for the nation.
This is contained in a statement signed by Mrs Oluwakemi Ogunmakinwa, Assistant Director, Information in the ministry, on Wednesday in Abuja.
Ogunmakinwa quoted the minister as saying this to commemorate the World Intellectual Property Day (WIPD) 2022, with the theme “IP and Youth: Innovating for a Better Future”.
Our correspondent reportst that the WIP Organisation Convention came into force in 1970 as WIPD and is celebrated every April 26th as the World Intellectual Property Day.
And with the aim to promote the role that intellectual property (IPRs) plays in encouraging creativity and innovation.
Katagum noted that Nigerian youths along with others in Africa and globally are innovative, used their energy, ingenuity, curiosity and creativity to create a better future.
She also described young people in Nigeria as the innovators, the creators and the entrepreneurs of today and the future.
The minister further said that through their creativity and ingenuity, young people in all regions across Nigeria are driving change and carving pathways to a better future.
“In the FinTech space for instance, Flutterwave, a Nigerian FinTech, recently raised an additional $250 million investment, taking its valuation to $3 billion and making it Africa’s biggest start up.
“We also have Flutterwave, Opay and Interswitch as current African Start-ups that are valued at above $1 billion, making them unicorns. In the technology driven sector alone, Nigeria boasts of six Start-Ups that have become unicorns,” Katagum said.
She said that the theme for this year’s WIPD has offered a platform for young people to find out how intellectual property (IPRs) could support their goals.
The minister said that it would also help transform their ideas into reality, generate income, create jobs and make positive impact on the world around them.
According to her, with IPRs, young people have access to some of the key tools they need to advance their ambitions.
The minister therefore congratulated all partners and pledged the ministry’s support to all youths in their innovation and creativity for a better future for Nigeria.
Reports also have it that Katagum formally launched the Trade Mark Ambassador Project as part of the celebrations of this year’s WIPD.
The occasion also witnessed the decoration of the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo; the Minister of State, Amb. Mariam Katagum; and other stakeholders as Trade Mark Ambassadors.