World IP Day 2023 – WIPO Nigeria Hosts first IP and Women Business Summit

April 28, 2023

To commemorate the World IP Day, the WIPO Nigeria Office organized the 2023 IP and Women Business Summit themed “Women as Catalysts of Innovation and Creativity in Nigeria: Opportunities and Challenges”. This event had two key objectives. First, to serve as a source of inspiration to women engaged in innovation and creativity, through sharing of experiences with leading female entrepreneurs, creatives and innovators. Second, to explore policy and regulatory pathways to closing the gender gap within the IP field in Nigeria.

The session opened with introductory remarks from Mr. Oluwatobiloba Moody, Director, WIPO Nigeria Office, Mr. Matthias Schmale, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, and Dr. Shafiu Yauri mni, Registrar, Trademarks Registry, who was ably represented by Barrister Sadiq Mohammed Yusufu, Asst. Chief Registrar, Trademarks Registry.

Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, the Special Adviser to the President of Nigeria on Ease of Doing Business, delivered the keynote address on Women as Catalysts of Innovation and Creativity in Nigeria: Business Opportunities and Challenges.

There were two panels comprising of leading female entrepreneurs, creatives and innovators.

The first panel, which was moderated by Ms. Adeyinka John, Deputy Head of Research, Strategy, Innovation and Results Measurement at NIRSAL PLC, explored the topic “accelerating female innovative and creative enterprises in Nigeria.”, This engaging panel featured female trail blazers who had made significant marks in the innovation and creative sectors in Nigeria: Ms. Uzoma Ezeoke, Executive Director, Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Ms. Kemisola Bolarinwa, Founder/CEO, Nextwear Technology, Ms. Aisha Augie-Kuta, Special Adviser (Digital Communications Strategy) to the Federal Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning and Dr. Funmi Adewara, Founder/CEO Mobihealth International.

The second panel focused on the policy and regulatory support structures required for addressing gender disparities in the creative and innovation fields. Moderated by Ms. Solape Peters, Partner at Olajide Oyewole LLP, the panel featured Dr. Olusola Momoh, Co-founder Channels Media Group, Ms. Beatrice Eyong, Country Representative, UN Women (represented by Mr. Lansanah Wonneh, Deputy Country Representative, UN Women), Ms. Stella Ezenduka, Chief Registrar, Patents and Designs Registry and Dr. Osasuyi Dirisu, Executive Director, Policy Innovation Centre (PIC).

The event also featured an unveiling by the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) of the logo of the Women Empowering Women in Intellectual Property (We Win IP) Campaign aimed at upscaling the IP knowledge of women in IP in Nigeria. As part of the unveiling, five awards were handed out by the NCC to recognize contributions and commitment of women and to inspire more women to join the campaign. The recipients were Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Special Adviser to the President of Nigeria on Ease of Doing Business, Ms. Uzoma Ezeoke, Executive Director, Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, Ms. Aisha Augie-Kuta, Special Adviser (Digital Communications Strategy) to the Federal Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, and Dr. Olusola Momoh, Co-founder Channels Media Group.

Performances at the event included the rendition of the national anthem by Ms. Amarachi Baldwin, as well as a spoken word poetry rendition by Ms. Loveth Liberty.

A second edition of the Summit will take place in March 2024.