Nigeria inaugurates WIPO office in Abuja

By:  Nana Appiah Acquaye

The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment has hosted the Director-General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Daren Tang, for high-level bilateral discussions and the official unveiling of the new WIPO Nigeria Office in Abuja.

The engagement focused on strengthening Nigeria’s industrialisation agenda and advancing economic diversification through an improved intellectual property (IP) ecosystem.

Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, led the discussions and emphasized the importance of building a robust IP framework to attract sustainable investment, accelerate innovation, and support the global competitiveness of Nigerian enterprises.

Following the bilateral meeting, stakeholders participated in a roundtable discussion with WIPO representatives to explore strategic priorities under Nigeria’s National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy (NIPPS), which is currently being implemented.

According to the Ministry, the establishment of the WIPO Nigeria Office marks a significant step toward strengthening institutional collaboration in intellectual property governance and innovation support.

Officials noted that the initiative is expected to enhance Nigeria’s capacity to protect intellectual property rights, support innovators and creators, and facilitate the commercialization of research and technology.

Dr. Oduwole reiterated that intellectual property development remains central to Nigeria’s broader economic transformation agenda, particularly in positioning the country as a competitive player in global innovation and trade.

The Ministry stated that the partnership with WIPO will further support efforts to scale Nigerian enterprises and integrate them more effectively into international markets.