WIPO Nigeria officially launches Branding Project for SMEs in Nigeria
October 17, 2024
On September 24, 2024, the WIPO Branding Project for SMEs, organized in partnership with the Trademarks Registry of Nigeria officially kicked off with an Information Roundtable and Launch Event which held at the United Nations House, Abuja.
The WIPO Branding Project for SMEs in Nigeria will provide support to female and youth led Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the Food and Beverages, Cosmetics, and Information, Communications and Technology (ICT) sectors to utilize branding as a tool for strengthening market access and dominance.
Present at the project launch and information roundtable event were notable officials of the Federal Government of Nigeria, including the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investment (FMTII), Ambassador Nura Abba Rimi, who was represented by Mr. Joseph Yiwa, Director Policy Planning Research and Statistics, FMTII; the Director- General/CEO of The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Mr Charles Odii; the Chief Registrar of the Trademarks Registry of Nigeria, Dr. Yauri Shafiu; and other directors and representatives of government agencies and parastatals.
Also present at the event to give an overview of the project, as well as WIPO’s objectives were Mr. Christopher Kalanje, Counsellor at WIPO IP for Business Division and Ms. Emily Fraser, Program Officer, WIPO Academy.
Mr Charles Odii expressed excitement at the commencement of the program, emphasizing the crucial importance of branding to the growth of small businesses in Nigeria. In his remarks, Dr. Yauri Shafiu, acclaimed the project as being a first of its kind, and an important one for Nigeria particularly with respect to the growth of trademarks use in the country.
A panel discussion at the event, involving Dr. Shafiu Adamu Yauri, Chief Registrar, Trademarks Registry, Mr. Charles Odii, DG/CEO, SMEDAN, Ms. Lara Kayode, Founder and Managing Partner, O. Kayode & Co, Ms. Chidera Ogbu, Founder, Olaedo Naturals and Mr. Marx Ikongbeh, Founder, Everlaw Associates, explored the granular details of branding for small businesses.
One of the selected participants for the project, Ms. Hasanatu Kehinde Omolade, expressed her excitement about starting the project, and particularly learning how to protect her intellectual property. All the 60 selected participants were onboarded into the program on September 30, 2024.
The successful applicants will over the next four months, learn to use IP as a business development and financing strategy through WIPO’s IP Management Clinics.
