- Tinubu Grants NRCRI Patency Certificate for Turmeric-Based Tea Innovation
- Turmeric is widely recognised for its medicinal, antioxidant and immune-boosting properties
- NRCRI undertakes national and international research collaborations, capacity-building programmes and short-term trainings
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally granted the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, Abia State, a Patency Certificate for a groundbreaking technological innovation involving the formulation and production of three varieties of tea derived from turmeric rhizomes and leaves.
Eko Hot Blog reports that in the development was confirmed by the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of NRCRI, Professor Chiedozie Egesi, who disclosed that the Patency Certificate was presented to the institute by the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Mr Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh (SAN).
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According to Professor Egesi, the approval was granted in line with the provisions of the Patent and Design Acts, CAP 344, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990, with reference number RP:NG/PT/NC/O/2024/15488, dated 11 December 2024 and sealed on 9 October 2025.
Describing the approval as a major milestone, Egesi said the presidential grant represents a “landmark achievement that underscores NRCRI’s unwavering commitment to advancing scientific innovation, promoting value addition in agriculture, and fostering the commercialisation of indigenous crops.”
He explained that turmeric, widely recognised for its medicinal, antioxidant and immune-boosting properties, has now been transformed into innovative tea variants through the institute’s research efforts led by Dr Rachel Majekodunmi Omodamiro.
“This innovation promises enhanced health benefits, new enterprise opportunities and significant contributions to Nigeria’s economy. It is another giant step in positioning Nigeria as a leader in bio-innovation, natural products research, and high-value root and tuber crop utilisation,” Egesi said.
He also congratulated the NRCRI research team, noting that the Federal Government’s recognition of the breakthrough highlights the growing strength of Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem and the potential of indigenous crops to drive sustainable economic development.
NRCRI has a statutory national mandate to conduct research into the genetic improvement, production, processing, storage, utilisation and socio-economic aspects of root and tuber crops of economic importance, including yam, cassava, potato, sweet potato, cocoyam, ginger, taro, sugar beet and rizga.
The institute also undertakes national and international research collaborations, capacity-building programmes and short-term trainings, while serving as the zonal research centre for the South-East agro-ecological zone, covering Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States.
In addition, NRCRI carries out agricultural extension services in collaboration with relevant federal and state agencies, including the National Agricultural Extension Research and Liaison Services (NAERLS) and State Agricultural Development Projects (ADPs), to ensure the effective dissemination and adoption of its research outputs.
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