The Federal Government of Nigeria and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) have agreed to deepen collaboration aimed at transforming intellectual property into tangible economic assets and drivers of national growth.
The partnership is expected to support the commercialisation of research from Nigerian universities, strengthen the creative economy, and expand opportunities for innovators, entrepreneurs, and investors.
The agreement was reached during a meeting between Vice President Kashim Shettima, a delegation from WIPO led by its Director-General, Daren Tang, and senior government officials at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Speaking during the meeting, Shettima said Nigeria is determined to build an intellectual property system that benefits inventors, investors, researchers, entrepreneurs, artists, and technology innovators.
He welcomed WIPO’s decision to establish its first office in Abuja, describing it as a major milestone for Nigeria and the African continent.
The Abuja office is WIPO’s first in Sub-Saharan Africa and one of only seven such offices globally.
According to the Vice President, the development reflects growing international confidence in Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem and intellectual property landscape.
He recalled that the Federal Executive Council approved the National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy (NIPPS) in November 2025 to provide Nigeria with a comprehensive framework for the development, protection, promotion, management, and commercialisation of intellectual property.
“As we deepen our collaboration with WIPO, we do so with gratitude and with great expectation. We look forward to stronger technical cooperation, deeper institutional support, expanded capacity-building, and practical pathways for the commercialisation of Nigerian creativity and research,” Shettima said.
He added that countries that will lead the global economy in the coming decades are those capable of creating, protecting, commercialising, and scaling intellectual assets.
The Vice President noted that President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda places significant emphasis on productivity, innovation, investment attraction, job creation, and long-term economic prosperity.
According to him, ideas, technology, innovation, brands, culture, data, and knowledge have become critical drivers of economic value in the modern world.
Shettima also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to innovation diplomacy and WIPO’s mission of creating a balanced global intellectual property system.
To strengthen collaboration, he directed the Ministries of Justice, Industry, Trade and Investment, and Art, Culture and Creative Economy to develop a roadmap for deeper engagement with the global intellectual property body.
In his remarks, WIPO Director-General Daren Tang expressed optimism about Nigeria’s future and reiterated the organisation’s commitment to supporting the country’s development goals.
Tang described his visit as significant because it coincided with two major milestones: the opening of WIPO’s Abuja office and the implementation of Nigeria’s National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy.
He said the decision to establish a WIPO office in Nigeria reflects the country’s growing importance in the global innovation ecosystem.
According to him, Nigerian innovators, creators, and entrepreneurs are increasingly influencing global markets and serving as examples of Africa’s growing intellectual property revolution.
Tang commended the Federal Government for launching the National IP Strategy and expressed confidence that it would create new opportunities for economic empowerment and employment generation.
He revealed that Nigeria currently has more than 3,000 startups, including seven unicorn companies, attracting significant investment and demonstrating the increasing role of intellectual property in economic development.
Earlier, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), said the visit reflects the strengthening partnership between Nigeria and WIPO.
He noted that Nigeria’s growing community of innovators, creators, startups, and technology-driven enterprises requires strong legal and institutional frameworks to sustain innovation and competitiveness.
Fagbemi said enhanced cooperation with WIPO would support technology transfer, improve intellectual property protection, and position Nigeria as a leading innovation hub in Africa.
Also speaking, the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, said the government is pursuing initiatives aimed at creating jobs and expanding opportunities within the creative sector.
She assured WIPO of the ministry’s commitment to working closely with the organisation to achieve shared objectives.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, said previous engagements with WIPO had already yielded positive outcomes, including the establishment of the organisation’s Abuja office.
She noted that the development demonstrates the Tinubu administration’s commitment to strengthening intellectual property protection, boosting trade and investment, and unlocking the economic potential of Nigeria’s creative and innovation sectors.
