By Vivian Emoni
The Federal Government has inaugurated committees to implement Nigeria’s National Intellectual Property (IP) Policy, to boost innovation and trade competitiveness for economic diversification.
Dr Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, inaugurated the Nigeria Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy (NIPPS) committee, including the Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee and Inter-Agency Coordination group, on Friday in Abuja.
Oduwole said the policy implementation phase would deliver tangible benefits to innovators, businesses, farmers, researchers and creators across the country.
She said the policy was formally inaugurated in December 2025 after receiving Federal Executive Council (FEC) approval and strong endorsement from key stakeholders.
According to her, Nigeria undertook a five-year inclusive audit of its intellectual property ecosystem, involving government, academia, industry and the creative sector.
She stressed that the success of the policy now depends on effective institutional reforms and coordinated execution by public institutions.
The minister said the priority actions include legal and regulatory reforms covering patents, trademarks, designs, plant varieties and traditional knowledge protection.
She added that institutional modernisation would focus on automation of IP registration systems and strengthening technical capacity across registries.
“The policy also prioritises IP commercialisation, technology transfer frameworks and stronger industry-academia collaboration to support MSMEs and startups.
“Sector-specific interventions will target the creative economy, agriculture and enforcement coordination nationwide. Awareness creation, capacity building and sustainable financing are essential to ensure nationwide adoption and impact.
“The Inter-ministerial steering committee will provide policy oversight, strategic alignment and resolution of cross-ministerial bottlenecks,’’ she said.
Oduwole added that the Interagency Coordination Group would drive technical execution, monitor milestones and integrate implementation into agency work plans.
She described the policy as a national economic reform, aimed at transforming Nigerian ideas into enterprises and boosting competitiveness.
She said the policy was developed through extensive consultations to align Nigeria’s IP framework with continental and global standards.
According to her, implementation must now translate into real economic outcomes for entrepreneurs, creators, researchers and businesses, while the structures were created to ensure accountability, help convert Nigerian ideas into enterprises and strengthen global competitiveness.
Oduwole identified legal and regulatory reforms as a key priority, including updates to IP laws and domestication of relevant international treaties.
She added that automation of IP registration and strengthening of technical capacity would modernise Nigeria’s IP institutions.
According to her, commercialisation and technology transfer frameworks will help transform research and innovation into market-ready products.
Sector-focused interventions, she said, would strengthen copyright enforcement, agricultural innovation and traditional knowledge protection.
She emphasised nationwide awareness programmes, public-private partnerships and judicial training to support sustainable implementation.
The minister said implementation required strong coordination across ministries, departments and agencies, noting that the Interagency Coordination Group will coordinate execution, track deliverables and report progress quarterly.
She described the policy as a critical tool for boosting productivity, trade, exports and Nigeria’s creative and innovation economy.
The Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Lateef Fagbemi, said the NIPPS provides a national framework to transform creativity, innovation and indigenous knowledge into protected, commercially valuable assets capable of driving economic diversification and job creation.
Fagbemi said the effective implementation would require coordinated reforms across laws, institutions, registration systems, commercialisation processes, enforcement mechanisms and public awareness initiatives.
He noted that policy declarations alone were insufficient, emphasising the need for strong coordination and disciplined technical mechanisms to translate commitments into concrete actions.
He explained that the Inter-Agency Coordination Group would provide strategic alignment, while the Technical Working Group would serve as the operational backbone for NIPPS implementation.
Fagbemi identified priority areas, including reviewing intellectual property laws, ratifying relevant treaties and establishing a Nigerian Intellectual Property Commission.
He urged the Technical Working Group to prioritise existing draft bills and roadmaps, describing them as quick wins to demonstrate momentum and commitment to NIPPS implementation.
Fagbemi was represented by Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs Beatrice Jedy-Agba.
Amb. Nura Rimi, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, said the inauguration marked a key step in implementing the NIPPS.
Rimi said intellectual property ecosystems globally were designed to support industrialisation, boost trade competitiveness, attract investment and reward innovation, while enabling effective regulation and enforcement.
He said the NIPPS was a whole-of-government framework spanning several ministries, aimed at providing coordination mechanisms that would prevent duplication and strengthen accountability.
He commended ministries and stakeholders for completing the policy and urged sustained technical collaboration and teamwork to ensure effective implementation in Nigeria’s national interest.
Dr John Asein, Director-General of the Nigeria Copyright Commission and member of the inaugurated committees, pledged effective and transparent delivery on behalf of the others, thanking the Federal Government for the appointment. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
VOE/FAA
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Edited by Folasade Adeniran
