October 27, 2025
A winner and 19 finalists have emerged from the 2025 WIPO National Intellectual Property Essay Competition.
Since the first edition in 2020, the WIPO National IP Essay Competition has been an opportunity for tertiary students in Nigeria to research and learn more about intellectual property as they explore policy ideas about the World Intellectual Property Day theme for each year.
The 2025 edition of the competition launched on April 30, 2025, with the theme, “IP and Music: Harnessing Nigeria’s Music Industry for Economic Growth”. It was focused on the broader World IP Day 2024 theme: “IP and music: Feel the beat of IP” and provided an opportunity for tertiary students to critically reflect on how the creativity of the various players in Nigeria’s music industry, combined with strong IP frameworks, can contribute significantly to the nation’s economy. It also challenged students to reflect on the obstacles, including the impact of emerging technologies, and propose forward-looking solutions that support sustainable growth in the industry and the larger economy.
By the deadline of June 30, 2025, a total of 189 entries were received from students across 57 tertiary institutions and 26 states of origin. An independent panel of 20 judges was selected to critically assess the essays in three stages over a period of 4 months.
The Winners
The full list of announced winners and finalists are included below:
First Name Last Name Institution Degree Program Education Level Position
Paul Olatunde Ajibola University of Ibadan Law 400 L 1st
Michael Williams University of Lagos Law 400 L 2nd
Abisola Oyeniyi University of Lagos Law 300 L 3rd
Laura Moronkola Lagos State University College of Medicine Medicine and Surgery 400 L 4th
Towobola Bamgbose Nigerian Law School, Lagos Campus Law Postgraduate 5th
Bolarinwa Bamigbola Olabisi Onabanjo University Law 500 L 6th
Doctor Ajanaku Bowen University Law 400 L Finalist
Elizabeth Chris Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria Civil Law 500 L Finalist
Chisom Nwagwughiagwu Federal University of Technology, Owerri Mechanical Engineering 300 L Finalist
Rachael Ajisafe Olabisi Onabanjo University Law 100 L Finalist
Victor Ayoola University of Ibadan Law 500 L Finalist
Oluwabukola Abolade University of Ibadan Economics 400 L Finalist
Silas Michael University of Ibadan Agricultural and Environmental Engineering 400 L Finalist
Ozana Dortie NIGER DELTA UNIVERSITY Law 400 L Finalist
Isaac Olugbenga Federal University Oye Ekiti Surveying and Geoinformatics 200 L Finalist
Abdulmuqeet Aribidesi University of Ilorin Common and Islamic Law 300 L Finalist
Vera Anakor Babcock University Law 300 L Finalist
Adekunle Olajide University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State Common Law 500 L Finalist
Olatunji Durodola University Of Ibadan English 300 L Finalist
Caleb Okechukwu Abia State University, Uturu Medicine and Surgery 200 L Finalist
The prizes
1. The first-place winner will receive a scholarship to participate in the Advanced Certificate Course on IP Asset Management.
2. The second and third-place winners will receive scholarships to attend the WIPO Summer School in South Africa 2026.
3. All winners and finalists will receive the opportunity to participate in a pioneer WIPO Nigeria IP Youth mentorship program.
4. All winners and finalists will also receive the opportunity to participate in a virtual IP capacity-building program organized by the WIPO Nigeria Office. The students also receive a gift box containing WIPO merch and their certificates
5. All winners and finalists will also receive the opportunity to participate in the Young Innovation Leaders Fellowship program.
6. All winners and finalists will receive the opportunity to participate in any WIPO Distance learning course of their choice. All participants in the essay competition will receive the opportunity to participate in the WIPO DL-101 course.
7. Top essay to be submitted for publication consideration with the WIPO Magazine.