WIPO Nigeria Hosts Summer School on Intellectual Property

November 22, 2021

From November 8 – 19, 2021, the first WIPO-Nigeria Summer School on Intellectual Property was hosted by the University of Lagos, Nigeria. The program was launched with a physical opening ceremony held at the University of Lagos, Akoka. While the Summer School was delivered as an online learning experience, provision was made within the University of Lagos for participants who wished to gather in a central location to attend the virtual lectures and network.

Over 140 participants from across Africa attended the WIPO-Nigeria Summer School, which included practical lectures in core areas of intellectual property including copyright and related rights, trademarks, patents and designs. Participants, who were mainly senior students (graduate students) and young professionals, with a deeper and practical knowledge of intellectual property, including the role and functions of WIPO. A copy of the program is available.

The two-week long program featured intensive learning activities, such as simulation exercises, group discussions, panel discussions and group case studies, which created a greater learning experience for participants.  According to Professor Adejoke Oyewunmi, the Chairperson of the Local Organizing Committee,

the Inaugural WIPO Nigeria Summer School (hosted by WIPO and the University of Lagos), in my view, was a vibrant gathering of great minds from diverse multidisciplinary backgrounds and sectors including academia, industry, business and legal practice – all eager to share information and experiences while also updating their knowledge about the incredible prospects of the goldmine represented by intellectual property for socio-cultural, economic and technological development. It was an awesome outing which has raised new consciousness among participants about the prospects, scope and impact of intellectual property in the different disciplines.

The WIPO Summer Schools, a program administered by the WIPO Academy, provides an opportunity for university students and young professionals to acquire a deeper knowledge of IP, and how it can be used as a tool for sustainable development, as well as the role of WIPO in the administration and the provision of global IP services.

Some feedback from participants:

The WIPO Summer School was an amazing experience. It was carefully planned with a view to giving the participants a perfect experience; from the array of facilitators to the structure of the course, the topics and the sessions’ outcomes. I particularly enjoyed the practical approach brought into the course by the WIPO Officials, Regulatory officers, IP Practitioners and academic experts. The simulation exercises and group assignment were also helpful in fully understanding the course. Though I attended online, the sessions were very engaging and I learnt a lot from the diverse views and in-depth knowledge of the facilitators. I am glad to be part of the debut cohort of the School in Nigeria and I look forward to other learning opportunities from WIPO. Kudos to the organizers

Mr. Christian Aniukwu, Esq.

My experience at the WIPO Nigeria Summer School is nothing but amazing, as I had the opportunity and privilege to learn from great minds in the field of Intellectual Property. I learnt how these IP laws apply in the Nigerian legal system considering the fact that learning in Intellectual Property fields are mostly generalized and not streamlined to a particular jurisdiction. The summer school covered virtually all aspects of IP, supported by in depth materials and delivered by experienced professionals. It was indeed an amazing two weeks of deep learning and I commend the efforts of the organizers.

Ms. Amosa Shukurat Modupeola