The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to strengthening the protection of intellectual property (IP) as World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) prepares for a high-level visit to Nigeria.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, made this known while receiving the Director of WIPO Nigeria Office, Oluwatobilola Moody, and his delegation in Abuja.
She disclosed that the Director General of WIPO, Daren Tang, will embark on a three-day working visit to Nigeria beginning June 1, during which he is expected to officially inaugurate the organisation’s Abuja office.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu emphasised that Nigeria places high importance on safeguarding the rights of creators, innovators, and entrepreneurs, noting that effective IP protection is critical to economic growth and global competitiveness.
She described WIPO as a key global platform that supports innovators by ensuring their ideas are protected across borders and translated into market value, adding that increased public awareness of IP rights is essential in Nigeria.
Highlighting Nigeria’s growing influence in the creative sector, the minister said the presence of the WIPO office in Abuja should unlock new opportunities for young Nigerians.
“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,” she said.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu also called for enhanced technical assistance from WIPO, particularly in capacity building and the commercialisation of Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage for economic development.
Earlier, Moody informed the minister that the visit of the WIPO Director General would include the formal inauguration of the Abuja office, the first and only WIPO office in Sub-Saharan Africa.
He noted that the organisation is increasingly focusing on inclusivity by making IP systems more accessible to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), as well as youth and women.
According to him, WIPO is also adapting its frameworks to address emerging technologies such as generative artificial intelligence, ensuring that innovation continues to support human creativity.
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Moody assured that Nigerian creatives and innovators would continue to benefit from WIPO programmes, particularly in modernising IP administration systems, including the digitalisation of trademarks and patents through the Industrial Property Automation System (IPAS).
Nigeria’s hosting of the WIPO office is expected to further position the country as a regional hub for intellectual property development and innovation.
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