On March 20, 2025, the third edition of the WIPO Nigeria Intellectual Property and Women Business Summit brought together industry leaders, government stakeholders, and women from different walks of life for a day of inspiration, learning, and networking. The central theme of the summit, “Women and IP: Building a Personal Brand and Identity in the Marketplace”, addressed the unique challenges and opportunities women face in shaping their professional identities through intellectual property.
The event started out with a warm welcome by Mr. Oluwatobiloba Moody, Director of the WIPO Nigeria Office. In his remarks, he reflected on the success of the previous editions of the IP and Women Business Summit which held in 2023 and 2024, emphasizing WIPO’s commitment to continue to support women in Nigeria to leverage intellectual property to improve their lives and contribute to national development.
Following this, the country director of UN Women Nigeria, Ms. Beatrice Eyong, represented by Ms. Patience Ekeoba, National Programme Officer, also warmly welcomed the attendees. She shared her insights on the relevance of the theme, stressing how crucial it is for women to own their ideas. "When women own their ideas, it gives them a chance to grow," she explained.
Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme Nigeria, Ms. Elsie Attafuah, represented by the UNDP Nigeria Deputy Resident Representative Programmes, Ms. Varsha Redkar-Palepu also shared her remarks, encouraging participants to take full advantage of the opportunities the event presented. Ms. Jane Igwe, Registrar of the Patents and Designs Registry congratulated the participants for attending the event, stressing the relevance of such platforms in empowering women for greater involvement in innovation and creativity.
A major highlight of the event was the keynote address delivered by Ms. Dupe Olusola, Founder, Next Generation Foundation and Immediate Past Managing Director, Transcorp Hotels Plc; on the topic “My Journey to Leadership and Lessons for Women in the Marketplace”. She emphasized personal branding as more than a logo or a social media presence; but a voice, reputation, and the essence of what a person is known for.
She posited that many women don’t maximize their intellectual property due to lack of awareness and confidence in themselves. She stressed the power of IP protection, urging women to be bold and unafraid to show their true selves.
The summit also featured a dynamic Fireside Chat on the topic: “Women and IP: Building a Personal Brand Identity in the Marketplace” with Ms. Olujoke Aliu, Managing Partner, Aluko and Oyebode; Mrs. Aisha Adamu Augie, Director-General, Centre for Black and African Arts and Entertainment; and Mrs. Chioma Nwokedi Momah, Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Guinness Nigeria. The discussion emphasized around the importance of building and protecting a clear and consistent brand identity, even across multiple sectors.
The participants, totaling close to 400 virtual and in-person attendees expressed great satisfaction with the event. With great enthusiasm, many attendees reflected on what they described as an incredible opportunity to be inspired by, meet and learn from other women from diverse fields of innovation and creativity.
The event marks a significant milestone in empowering Nigerian women in the area of intellectual property, as part of global efforts to close the gender gap in intellectual property rights across the world.
A next edition of the summit is expected to hold in March 2026.