Phase 2 of the Business Export Program (BEP) - What is the Business Export Program?
The Business Export Program (BEP) is a project funded by the Funds-In-Trust Japan Industrial Property Global (FIT-Japan) and implemented by the WIPO Nigeria Office. The project is designed to strengthen Nigeria’s business environment by supporting Nigerian SMEs, MSMEs and established companies to use intellectual property (IP) strategically as they expand into international markets.
What is the IP and Export Business Bootcamp?
The IP and Export Business Bootcamp is the second phase of the Business Export Program. It is a one-day intensive, in-person capacity-building session designed specifically for export-oriented Nigerian businesses. Unlike generic trade workshops, this bootcamp focuses squarely on integrating IP strategy into export decision-making.
Participants will work through practical modules on:
- Identifying and managing IP assets for international markets
- Protecting IP in target export markets
- Navigating national, regional, and international IP protection systems
- Building a customized IP-Export Integration Plan
Following the bootcamp, 15 selected businesses will receive two weeks of tailored mentoring to help them translate the knowledge gained into practical actions for their businesses.
Who can apply?
The IP and Export Business Export invites Nigerian SMEs, MSMEs, and established companies that are interested in exporting or expanding their products, services, brands, creative works, technologies, or innovations into international markets.
The main selection criteria include:
- Must be a Nigerian-owned and registered business.
- Must have an existing product, service, brand, creative work, technology, or innovation.
- Must demonstrate export interest or potential.
- Must have a viable and operational business.
- Must be actively seeking to integrate IP into export strategy.
- Must be available to attend the full one-day bootcamp on 28 October 2026
- Must nominate an appropriate representative to participate in the program.
- Must provide sufficient information about the business and its products or services.
- Must be willing to develop an actionable IP and export plan.
- Women and youth-led businesses are strongly encouraged to apply
Selection for the two-week mentoring program
While 60 businesses will participate in the bootcamp, 15 businesses will be selected for two weeks of tailored mentoring.
Selection will consider:
- Results of the enterprise diagnostic assessment;
- Demonstrated export traction or concrete market entry plan
- Clearly identifiable IP assets with relevance for export;
- Urgency and relevance of the enterprise’s IP support needs;
- Operational capacity to implement
- Commitment to participate in at least two hours of tailored mentoring;
- Willingness to share progress and mentoring outcomes for program documentation; and
- Balanced representation across sectors, enterprise sizes, locations, and women- and youth-led businesses, where appropriate.
Target location
The Business Export Program will be delivered in person in Abuja, Nigeria.
The one-day IP and Export Business Bootcamp will take place on 28 October 2026 and will bring together 60 selected export-oriented Nigerian enterprises.
Further details on the venue and participation arrangements will be communicated to selected applicants.
What to expect
The overall objective of the IP and Export Business Bootcamp is to strengthen the capacity of Nigerian businesses to use intellectual property strategically as they pursue export opportunities and enter international markets.
Participants will:
- Gain a practical understanding of key IP rights, including trademarks, patents, industrial designs and copyright, and their relevance to export-oriented businesses.
- Learn how to identify, manage and protect IP assets that contribute to the value of their businesses.
- Understand how IP protection can support businesses when entering target international markets.
- Explore appropriate national, regional and international IP protection systems.
- Identify potential IP-related risks and opportunities associated with exporting.
- Gain practical insights to strengthen their IP and export strategies.
- Develop an actionable framework for integrating IP considerations into their export plans.
- Get opportunities to connect with other export-oriented Nigerian businesses.
- Provide hands-on mentorship through expert-led sessions and interactive workshops
- Facilitate engagement with Nigeria's IP offices and export support institutions
How can the IP and Export Business Bootcamp benefit your business?
Every export-oriented business has unique market challenges that require a tailored IP strategy; an action plan to identify, develop, protect, and leverage a company's portfolio of IP assets across borders. Successfully implemented, an IP strategy allows businesses to reduce risk, build brand value, and gain competitive advantage in foreign markets.
Participants will benefit from:
- One-on-one mentorship with IP and business export experts
- Practical exercises and tools including templates, checklists, and summaries
- Networking opportunities with peers, IP offices, export advisors, and ecosystem players
- Customized IP-Export Integration Plan developed during the program
- Access to best global practices in IP-driven export expansion
- Opportunity for two weeks of tailored mentoring for selected businesses