FG Moves to Protect Nigerian Innovations as Global IP Body Opens First Sub-Saharan African Office in Abuja

By: Michael Mike

Nigeria is positioning itself for a major leap in the global knowledge economy as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to protect intellectual property, unlock the economic potential of the creative industry and attract innovation-driven investments.

The push gained fresh momentum on Monday with the announcement that the Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), Daren Tang, will arrive Nigeria on June 1 for a three-day high-level working visit that will culminate in the inauguration of the organisation’s Abuja office — the first and only WIPO office in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The development is being viewed in diplomatic and economic circles as a strategic recognition of Nigeria’s rising influence in Africa’s creative and innovation ecosystem.

Speaking during a meeting with the Director of WIPO Nigeria Office, Oluwatobilola Moody, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, declared that the Federal Government remains fully committed to strengthening the protection of intellectual property and creating opportunities for Nigerian innovators, creators and entrepreneurs.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu stressed that Nigeria’s booming creative sector — spanning music, film, fashion, publishing, technology and digital content — must begin to derive greater economic value from its global cultural influence.

“You talked about Nigeria’s soft power in the creative industry; I expect that hosting the office here in Abuja means there should be a whole lot of openings for young Nigerians,” the minister stated.

Her remarks come amid growing concerns over piracy, copyright theft and weak intellectual property enforcement that continue to cost Nigerian creators billions of naira annually despite the global success of industries such as Nollywood and Afrobeats.

Analysts say the establishment of a permanent WIPO presence in Abuja could significantly strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to tackle intellectual property violations, modernise its regulatory systems and support local innovators seeking access to international markets.

The WIPO office has already played a critical role in supporting the digitalisation of Nigeria’s trademarks and patents registry through the Industrial Property Automation System (IPAS), a reform initiative aimed at improving transparency, reducing delays and boosting investor confidence.

Beyond administration, the Federal Government is now pushing for broader collaboration with WIPO in areas of technical assistance, youth empowerment and commercialisation of Nigeria’s cultural assets.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu specifically called for expanded capacity-building programmes that would help transform local creativity into globally competitive economic assets capable of generating jobs and foreign exchange earnings.

For years, experts have argued that Nigeria’s creative and technology sectors remain underexploited largely because of weak intellectual property structures, inadequate legal protection and limited awareness among young innovators.

The WIPO visit is therefore expected to trigger renewed conversations around innovation policy, digital economy reforms and the monetisation of intellectual assets in Africa’s largest economy.

Briefing the minister, Moody revealed that WIPO under Tang’s leadership has shifted toward a more inclusive intellectual property system designed to support micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, women and young innovators.

He further disclosed that the organisation is actively adapting global intellectual property frameworks to address emerging technologies such as Generative Artificial Intelligence, while ensuring that technological advancement does not undermine human creativity.

According to him, Nigerian creators and innovators will continue to benefit from programmes designed to expand access to intellectual property protection, global partnerships and international commercial opportunities.

The upcoming visit by the WIPO Director General is expected to attract key stakeholders from government, diplomacy, business and the creative industry, further cementing Nigeria’s growing role as a continental hub for innovation, culture and intellectual capital.

FG Moves to Protect Nigerian Innovations as Global IP Body Opens First Sub-Saharan African Office in Abuja