Nigeria Validates National IP Policy and Strategy (NIPPS)

September 22, 2022

From September 13 – 15, 2022, the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN) collaborated with WIPO to organize a National Multi-stakeholders Workshop for the Validation of the Draft National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy (NIPPS). The draft policy sets out a road map of programs and projects to achieve its mission to promote a comprehensive and conducive IP ecosystem in Nigeria with a vision to utilize Intellectual Property for sustainable National Prosperity. The workshop was jointly facilitated by the National IP Agencies and a team of national and international consultants, led by Prof. Tom Migun Ogada. It concluded with a unanimous validation of the draft NIPPS by the broad scope of private and public stakeholders present.

wno-news-nipps-workshop-2022-845 — WIPO representatives, Senior Government officials of the Federal Government of Nigeria, and Heads of National IP Agencies with the team of WIPO Consultants at the Multi-Stakeholders Validation Workshop. (L – R) Dr. Shafiu Adamu Yauri, MNI (Registrar, Trademarks Registry); Ms. Dora Makwinja (Executive Director, Copyright Society of Malawi and WIPO Consultant); Prof. Bankole Sodipo, SAN (WIPO Consultant); Prof. Tom Ogada (Executive Director, African Centre for Technology Studies; Lead WIPO Consultant); Dr. John Asein (Director General, Nigerian Copyright Commission); Dr. Evelyn Ngige (Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment); Mr. Tobi Moody (Director, WIPO Nigeria Office); Mrs. Beatrice Jedy-Agba (Solicitor General, Ministry of Justice); Ms. Loretta Asiedu (Senior Counsellor, Division for Africa, WIPO); Mr. Ampe Michael FUT (Director, Technology Acquisition and Adaptation Department, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation); Mr. Akindeji Aremu (Representative, Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the UN); Mrs. Stella Ezenduka (Chief Registrar, Patents and Designs Registry); Prof. Adewole Adedeji (Dean, Faculty of Law, OAU; WIPO Consultant) (Photo: WIPO/Onyeagbako ).

Some strategic objectives under the draft policy for Nigeria include:

Strengthening of the legal framework for the protection of intellectual property rights in Nigeria;
Strengthening the institutional framework for the administration and management of intellectual property rights in Nigeria;
Enhancing the generation and protection of Intellectual Property rights;
The promotion and facilitation of commercial exploitation of intellectual property assets and technology transfer;
Strengthening the legal and institutional framework for enforcement of intellectual property rights in Nigeria;
Development of the required human resources for the administration, protection, commercialization, and enforcement of intellectual property rights; and
Promotion of intellectual property training, education and awareness.

wno-news-nipps-workshop-2022-1-845 — Mr. Tobi Moody, Director, WIPO Nigeria Office (first R), with national and international Consultants reciting the National Anthem at the commencement of the Multi-Stakeholders Validation Workshop (Photo: WIPO/Onyeagbako).

wno-news-nipps-workshop-2022-2-845 — Ms. Loretta Asiedu – Senior Counsellor, Division for Africa, WIPO – delivering the opening remarks on behalf of Mr. Daren Tang, Director General, WIPO, at the commencement of the Multi-Stakeholders Validation Workshop (Photo: WIPO/Onyeagbako).

wno-news-nipps-workshop-2022-3-845 — Prof. Tom Ogada (Lead Consultant) addressing Stakeholders on the Draft NIPPS at the Multi-Stakeholders Validation Workshop (Photo: WIPO/Onyeagbako).

wno-news-nipps-workshop-2022-4-845 — Stakeholders deliberating on the provisions of the Draft National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy in breakout rooms at the Multi-Stakeholders Validation Workshop at the United Nations House, Abuja (Photo: WIPO/Onyeagbako).

wno-news-nipps-workshop-2022-5-845 — Ms. Asiedu and Mr. Moody congratulating Stakeholders on the successful validation of a Draft National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy at the conclusion of the Multi-Stakeholders Validation Workshop (Photo: WIPO/Onyeagbako).