Nigeria Validates National IP Policy and Strategy (NIPPS)
September 22, 2022
From September 13 – 15, 2022, the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN) collaborated with WIPO to organize a National Multi-stakeholders Workshop for the Validation of the Draft National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy (NIPPS). The draft policy sets out a road map of programs and projects to achieve its mission to promote a comprehensive and conducive IP ecosystem in Nigeria with a vision to utilize Intellectual Property for sustainable National Prosperity. The workshop was jointly facilitated by the National IP Agencies and a team of national and international consultants, led by Prof. Tom Migun Ogada. It concluded with a unanimous validation of the draft NIPPS by the broad scope of private and public stakeholders present.
WIPO representatives, Senior Government officials of the Federal Government of Nigeria, and Heads of National IP Agencies with the team of WIPO Consultants at the Multi-Stakeholders Validation Workshop. (L – R) Dr. Shafiu Adamu Yauri, MNI (Registrar, Trademarks Registry); Ms. Dora Makwinja (Executive Director, Copyright Society of Malawi and WIPO Consultant); Prof. Bankole Sodipo, SAN (WIPO Consultant); Prof. Tom Ogada (Executive Director, African Centre for Technology Studies; Lead WIPO Consultant); Dr. John Asein (Director General, Nigerian Copyright Commission); Dr. Evelyn Ngige (Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment); Mr. Tobi Moody (Director, WIPO Nigeria Office); Mrs. Beatrice Jedy-Agba (Solicitor General, Ministry of Justice); Ms. Loretta Asiedu (Senior Counsellor, Division for Africa, WIPO); Mr. Ampe Michael FUT (Director, Technology Acquisition and Adaptation Department, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation); Mr. Akindeji Aremu (Representative, Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the UN); Mrs. Stella Ezenduka (Chief Registrar, Patents and Designs Registry); Prof. Adewole Adedeji (Dean, Faculty of Law, OAU; WIPO Consultant) (Photo: WIPO/Onyeagbako ).
Some strategic objectives under the draft policy for Nigeria include:
Strengthening of the legal framework for the protection of intellectual property rights in Nigeria;
Strengthening the institutional framework for the administration and management of intellectual property rights in Nigeria;
Enhancing the generation and protection of Intellectual Property rights;
The promotion and facilitation of commercial exploitation of intellectual property assets and technology transfer;
Strengthening the legal and institutional framework for enforcement of intellectual property rights in Nigeria;
Development of the required human resources for the administration, protection, commercialization, and enforcement of intellectual property rights; and
Promotion of intellectual property training, education and awareness.
Mr. Tobi Moody, Director, WIPO Nigeria Office (first R), with national and international Consultants reciting the National Anthem at the commencement of the Multi-Stakeholders Validation Workshop (Photo: WIPO/Onyeagbako).
Ms. Loretta Asiedu – Senior Counsellor, Division for Africa, WIPO – delivering the opening remarks on behalf of Mr. Daren Tang, Director General, WIPO, at the commencement of the Multi-Stakeholders Validation Workshop (Photo: WIPO/Onyeagbako).
Prof. Tom Ogada (Lead Consultant) addressing Stakeholders on the Draft NIPPS at the Multi-Stakeholders Validation Workshop (Photo: WIPO/Onyeagbako).
Stakeholders deliberating on the provisions of the Draft National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy in breakout rooms at the Multi-Stakeholders Validation Workshop at the United Nations House, Abuja (Photo: WIPO/Onyeagbako).
Ms. Asiedu and Mr. Moody congratulating Stakeholders on the successful validation of a Draft National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy at the conclusion of the Multi-Stakeholders Validation Workshop (Photo: WIPO/Onyeagbako).