In a landmark step for intellectual property (IP) adjudication in Nigeria, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has launched the newest title in its Intellectual Property Benchbook Series dedicated to IP Adjudication in Nigeria, developed in close collaboration with the Nigerian judiciary through the National Judicial Institute (NJI). The publication also builds on a regional initiative led by the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization, to strengthen judicial resources for IP adjudication across Africa.
From the global cultural phenomenon of Nollywood and the international reach of Nigerian music, to a fast-growing technology sector and a thriving start-up and entrepreneurial ecosystem, Nigeria's creative and innovative industries have delivered real economic impact and brought the country to the world stage. This transformative power finds its fullest expression when supported by effective legal institutions capable of meeting the complexity and pace of modern IP disputes. The Benchbook is designed to strengthen the adjudication of IP cases by providing jurisdiction-specific, practical, and authoritative guidance tailored to Nigeria.
Pictured left to right: Hon. Justice John Inyang Okoro, JSC, OFR - Justice of the Supreme Court, Chairman Education Committee of Board of Governors and National Judicial Institute (NJI), and Mr. Daren Tang, Director General WIPO.
On June 2, 2026, during his official visit to Nigeria, the WIPO Director General Daren Tang met with members of the Nigerian judiciary, led by Hon. Justice John Inyang Okoro, JSC, OFR, Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and Chairman of the Education Committee of the Board of Governors of the NJI, alongside the Administrator and Directors of the NJI.
During the engagement, the Director General, together with distinguished representatives of the judiciary, launched the Intellectual Property Benchbook: Intellectual Property Adjudication in Nigeria, the first national contribution from Sub-Saharan Africa to WIPO’s Global IP Benchbook Series.
The discussions also focused on strengthening judicial capacity-building, promoting alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, and enhancing the judiciary’s preparedness to address emerging IP challenges arising from digital technologies and artificial intelligence.
Pictured left to right: Hon. Justice B. A. Adejumo, OFR (Rtd) Administrator Nji, Hon. Justice John Inyang Okoro, JSC, OFR - Justice of the Supreme Court, Chairman Education Committee of Board of Governors and National Judicial Institute (NJI), Mr. Daren Tang, Director General WIPO.
Pictured: Group photo with members of the Judiciary and WIPO Delegates
Photo Credit: Oni Abimbola
The Intellectual Property Benchbook Series is part of WIPO’s work for judiciaries, which provides judicial dialogue, resources, and training to support fair and effective IP enforcement, and through WIPO Lex, connects the IP community with global legal knowledge and insights.
A Collaboration Rooted in Practice
The Benchbook is the culmination of sustained engagement between WIPO and the Nigerian judiciary, including a Judicial Workshop held on April 2 and 3, 2025, which brought together 21 judges from 13 Judicial Divisions of the Federal High Court to engage with IP dispute resolution, remedies, criminal infringement, and case management, and to provide direct feedback on the draft Benchbook.
Nigeria’s engagement at the judicial level is further reflected in the service of Hon. Justice Olayinka Faji, Judge at the Federal High Court in Lagos, on the WIPO Advisory Board of Judges (2023 – 2024), as well as in his contributions to the IP Benchbook for Nigeria, bringing in decades of judicial experience and deep expertise across multiple dimensions of IP law to WIPO’s global judicial network.
Nigeria’s participation in WIPO Lex-Judgements
The WIPO Judicial Institute builds judicial capacity through tailored Continuing Judicial Education on IP, complemented by WIPO Lex-Judgments - a free, curated database of leading IP judicial decisions from around the world that helps courts navigate complex and emerging IP questions with the benefit of global jurisprudence. As technological innovations increase, the database supports courts by surfacing both converging and contrasting national approaches to common IP challenges. Nigeria has been a participating member state since March 13, 2023, enabling Nigerian judicial decisions to be curated and shared on the platform, and by extension, contributing to the visibility and development of Nigerian IP jurisprudence on the global stage.