The Federal Government has said its collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) will strengthen intellectual property protection, commercialisation, and business opportunities for innovators across Nigeria.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, made this known during a stakeholders’ roundtable on accelerating Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem in Abuja. She described intellectual property as a key pillar of economic growth under the current administration.
Oduwole also inaugurated WIPO’s first office in Sub-Saharan Africa, located in Nigeria, describing it as a major milestone for the country’s innovation ecosystem. She noted that Nigeria’s first comprehensive intellectual property policy, approved in 2025, is already being implemented through collaboration among government agencies and private-sector stakeholders.
WIPO Director-General, Daren Tang, said the organisation would continue supporting Nigerian innovators, entrepreneurs, and creatives by making intellectual property services more accessible. He added that a new partnership with SMEDAN will help small businesses leverage intellectual property as a tool for growth, investment, and commercial success.
