The Federal Government has intensified efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s intellectual property ecosystem by deepening its partnership with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) ahead of the 68th WIPO Assemblies.
Leading the Nigerian delegation, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, held a high level strategic meeting with WIPO Director General, Daren Tang, to explore new areas of collaboration aimed at enhancing the country’s intellectual property framework.
The discussions centred on strengthening institutional cooperation between Nigeria and WIPO to create a more robust intellectual property system capable of protecting innovation, promoting creativity and supporting sustainable economic growth.
According to the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, the renewed partnership is expected to improve the protection of intellectual property rights, encourage innovation across key sectors of the economy and create an enabling environment for inventors, entrepreneurs, researchers and creative professionals to thrive.
The initiative also seeks to position Nigeria as a competitive destination for investment by providing stronger legal and institutional safeguards for intellectual assets. Officials noted that an effective intellectual property system is critical to attracting both local and foreign investment while encouraging the development of knowledge-based industries.
A major focus of the engagement is the commercialisation of Nigerian innovations on the global stage. By working closely with WIPO, the government aims to ensure that inventions, creative works, trademarks and other intellectual assets developed by Nigerians receive broader international recognition and generate greater economic value.
The meeting aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises economic diversification, industrialisation, innovation and private sector-led growth. Strengthening intellectual property protection is regarded as a key component of building a competitive economy driven by technology, research, entrepreneurship and the creative industries.
Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to expanding technical cooperation, institutional capacity building and knowledge sharing to modernise Nigeria’s intellectual property administration in line with international best practices.
The engagement comes ahead of the 68th WIPO Assemblies, where member states are expected to discuss global intellectual property policies, innovation strategies and international cooperation. Nigeria’s participation underscores its commitment to leveraging intellectual property as a strategic tool for economic development, job creation and enhanced global competitiveness.
