The Federal Government has intensified efforts to strengthen intellectual property protection and unlock the economic potential of Nigeria’s creative and innovation sectors as the World Intellectual Property Organization prepares to inaugurate its first office in Sub-Saharan Africa in Abuja.
The move gained momentum on Monday following the announcement that the Director General of WIPO, Daren Tang, will arrive Nigeria on June 1 for a three-day high-level working visit that will culminate in the formal opening of the organisation’s Abuja office.
The development is being viewed by diplomatic and economic stakeholders as a major recognition of Nigeria’s growing influence within Africa’s creative, cultural and innovation ecosystem.
Speaking during a meeting with the Director of the WIPO Nigeria Office, Oluwatobilola Moody, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening intellectual property protection and creating opportunities for Nigerian innovators, entrepreneurs and content creators.
The minister noted that Nigeria’s expanding creative industry, which includes music, film, fashion, publishing, technology and digital content, must 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,” she stated.
Her remarks come amid increasing concerns over piracy, copyright infringement and weak intellectual property enforcement, issues experts say continue to cost Nigerian creators billions of naira annually despite the global success of industries such as Nollywood and Afrobeats.
Analysts believe the establishment of a permanent WIPO presence in Abuja could significantly enhance Nigeria’s capacity to combat intellectual property violations, modernise regulatory frameworks and support local innovators seeking access to international markets.
The WIPO office has already supported the digitalisation of Nigeria’s trademarks and patents registry through the Industrial Property Automation System (IPAS), a reform initiative aimed at improving transparency, reducing administrative delays and strengthening investor confidence.
Beyond regulatory reforms, the Federal Government is also seeking deeper collaboration with WIPO in areas including technical assistance, youth empowerment and the commercialisation of Nigeria’s cultural and intellectual assets.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu specifically called for expanded capacity-building programmes to help transform local creativity into globally competitive economic assets capable of generating employment and foreign exchange earnings.
For years, industry experts have argued that Nigeria’s creative and technology sectors remain underutilised due largely to weak intellectual property structures, inadequate legal protection and limited awareness among emerging innovators.
The upcoming WIPO visit is therefore expected to stimulate renewed policy discussions around innovation, digital economy reforms and the monetisation of intellectual assets in Africa’s largest economy.
Briefing the minister, Moody disclosed that WIPO under Tang’s leadership has adopted a more inclusive intellectual property framework designed to support micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, women and young innovators.
He added that the organisation is also adapting global intellectual property systems 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 aimed at expanding access to intellectual property protection, global partnerships and international commercial opportunities.
Stakeholders from government, diplomacy, business and the creative sector are expected to participate in activities surrounding the WIPO Director General’s visit, further reinforcing Nigeria’s position as a continental hub for innovation, culture and intellectual capital.
