On Thursday, February 20 2025, small business owners who completed the WIPO Branding Project for SMEs—organized in collaboration with the Nigerian Trademarks Registry —gathered at the United Nations House, Abuja with government stakeholders and IP experts to share success stories and reflect on the project's impact on their businesses.
The event kicked off with welcome remarks delivered by the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, represented by the Registrar of the Trademarks Registry, Dr. Shafiu Adamu Yauri; as well as the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investment, Ambassador Nura Abba Rimi, represented by Mr. Danfa Sule, Director, Federal Produce Service and Inspection; and Mr. Oluwatobiloba Moody, Director of the WIPO Nigeria Office.
Also present to commemorate the successful completion of the project were key stakeholders in the Nigerian Small and Medium Enterprises sector, including the Director General, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Mr. Charles Odii; Director General, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Ms. Nonye Ayeni, represented by Mr. Onoga Ella; Ms. Weyinmi Eribo, Director General, Women Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (WCCIMA); Acting Managing Director/CEO, Abuja Enterprise Agency, Mr. Chudi Ugwuada Ezirigwe. Mr. Christopher Kalanje, Counsellor, IP for Business Division, WIPO, also joined the event virtually, congratulating the participants and urging them towards leveraging on their learnings from the project to grow their businesses.
During the event, some of the project beneficiaries, including Ms. Faith Dawah of Faitech and Tribes Computer, Ms. Aisha Adebayo of Aish Naturals Cosmetics, Mr. Izu Freeman of Capsule Business Technology Limited, Ms. Omolade Kehinde of Hastaj Fresh Fruit Juice Ltd, and Mr. Mmaduabuchi Anoro, of Elwin Amanchasis Co., Ltd shared highlights from their journeys through the program, as well as the impact of the training on both their personal and business growth. The session also included comments on the project by the IP and business mentors in the project - Ms. Omolara Kayode, Owner and Managing Partner, O. Kayode and Co; Mr. Ashiwel Ochui, Marketing Manager, Africa, Pngme; Ms. Simi Oyelude, Partner, G. Elias and Co; Mr Mohammed Ibrahim Jega, Director, NatQuest; Mr. Senator Ihenyen, Lead Partner, Infusion Lawyers; and Professor Kasim Waziri, Professor of Law, University of Abuja.
We were able to understand our trademark and what it can do for us. I developed a brand strategy with the help of our mentor, for industrializing our single-origin food products for Nigerian and global markets.
- Mmaduabuchi Anoro, Elwin Amanchasis Co., Ltd
The event concluded with the presentation of certificates to program beneficiaries by the WIPO Nigeria Office Director, Mr. Oluwatobiloba Moody, along with Dr. Shafiu Adamu Yauri, the representative of the honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Danfa Sule, representative of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and Mr. Charles Odii, Director General, SMEDAN.
A product exhibition by the participants also held at the United Nations House, Abuja, as part of the closing event.
