Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
Nigeria has recorded a significant milestone in its innovation journey with the launch of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Nigeria Office in Abuja, the first WIPO office established in Sub-Saharan Africa. This was contained in a statement signed by Obilor-Duru Augustina Okechi, Head, Press, and Public Relations.
The landmark event, held at the United Nations House in Abuja, was followed by a high-level roundtable discussion on accelerating Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem and strengthening the role of intellectual property (IP) in national development.
Speaking at the event, the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to leveraging intellectual property, innovation, and commercialization as key drivers of economic growth, job creation, and global competitiveness.
She highlighted ongoing efforts to implement Nigeria’s National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy, noting that the country has moved beyond policy formulation to practical action through strategic collaborations with government institutions, the private sector, and international partners.
According to the Minister, WIPO’s decision to establish its first Sub-Saharan African office in Nigeria reflects growing international confidence in the country’s vibrant creative, technology, manufacturing, and innovation sectors, while creating new opportunities for capacity building, financing, training, and stronger IP protection for Nigerian innovators and businesses.
Director General, WIPO Mr Darren Tang, described Nigeria as one of the world’s fastest-rising centres of creativity and innovation, citing the country’s globally recognised music and film industries, alongside its rapidly expanding ecosystem of over 3,000 technology startups.
He emphasized that intellectual property has become one of the most valuable assets in today’s knowledge-driven economy, enabling ideas, brands, creativity, and innovation to generate economic value. Tang outlined six strategic opportunities for Nigeria, including leveraging IP as a financial asset, commercializing research and university innovations, strengthening the national innovation ecosystem, supporting the creative industries through stronger copyright frameworks, equipping young people with innovation and entrepreneurship skills, and helping small and medium-sized enterprises protect and monetize their innovations.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Chris Osa Isokpunwu stressed the importance of building an inclusive innovation ecosystem capable of attracting investment, creating jobs, and driving sustainable economic growth.
The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr Mohamed Malick Fall, described the establishment of the WIPO Nigeria Office as timely, noting that robust intellectual property systems are essential to unlocking Africa’s vast creative and innovation potential, particularly among young people and women.
Discussants during the roundtable agreed that effective intellectual property protection must be complemented by strong commercialization frameworks to enable innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, and creators to transform ideas into globally competitive products and services.
The launch of the WIPO Nigeria Office is expected to usher in a new era of innovation-led growth, positioning intellectual property as a powerful tool for wealth creation, investment attraction, and national development.
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