WIPO Nigeria, in Collaboration with the National Intellectual Property Club (NIPC), Organizes the Maiden National IP Convention for Students of Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria

August 11, 2023

NIPC Convention

WIPO Nigeria, in Collaboration with the National Intellectual Property Club (NIPC), Organizes the Maiden National IP Convention for Students of Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria. 

WIPO Nigeria in collaboration with the NIPC organized the maiden IP Convention for students of tertiary institutions in Nigeria from August 1 – 3, 2023 at the Tayo Aderinokun Hall in University of Lagos, Nigeria. The convention was themed ‘The Creative Industries and the Fourth Industrial Revolution: The Role of Intellectual Property’.

On August 1, the convention featured welcome remarks by Prof. Adejoke Oyewumi, Lagos State University and Prof. Mathew Olusoji Ilori, Director of Academic Planning, representing the Vice-chancellor of the University of Lagos – Folasade Ogunsola. There was a keynote address by the Senior Partner, Jackson, Etti and Edu - Uwa Ohiku, on the theme of the Convention. These activities were followed by two panel sessions - ‘The Role of Intellectual Property in the Creative Industry’ and “Promoting Intellectual Property Awareness in Nigeria’. There were four breakout sessions on the roles IP play in Tech, Photography, Fashion, and the Metaverse where delegates exchanged with field experts on their areas of interest. Seasoned IP and field experts in Nigeria facilitated the panel and breakout sessions. The program also featured networking sessions and exciting creativity display by delegates.

On August 2, the Director of the WIPO Nigeria Office (WNO) – Oluwatobiloba Moody delivered a keynote address encouraging the students to position themselves for impact in the area of intellectual property in Nigeria. There were two panel sessions – ‘IP and Innovation: Accelerating Innovation and Commercialization of IPRs’ and ‘The Impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and Beyond’. There were three breakout sessions on the roles IP play in Entertainment, Art and Business facilitated by industry experts.

The final day of the convention featured IP sensitization walks by the delegates on the streets of Lagos and at Yaba Tech where they highlighted the importance of IP amongst creatives, students, tech experts as well as to the public. The first ever IP journal by students in Nigeria – ‘The NIPC Landmark Publication’ was launched at the concluding event of the convention. The journal featured interesting contributions, conversations and interviews on IP as well as an address on the convention theme by the Assistant Director General, Global Challenges and Partnerships Sector, WIPO – Edward Kwakwa.

The delegates exhibited great interest and enthusiasm at the convention with their active participation and engagement. To culminate the experience on Day 2, the students concluded the maiden IP Arbitration Moot Competition, which returned the University of Ilorin as overall winners of the competition, and University of Ibadan in second place.