Nigeria has strengthened its position as a leading innovation destination in Africa with the establishment of the first World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) office in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The landmark development is expected to boost the protection and commercialization of innovations, creative works, research, and business ideas while bringing global intellectual property services closer to Nigerian entrepreneurs, creators, and innovators.
Speaking at a roundtable in Abuja themed “Innovation-Driven Intellectual Property: Value Creation, Protection, and Commercialization,” Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, described the move as historic. She said WIPO’s decision reflects growing international confidence in Nigeria’s innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurial ecosystem.
According to Oduwole, the office will support the implementation of Nigeria’s National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy, approved by the Federal Executive Council last year, while helping innovators, researchers, businesses, and creatives maximize the value of their ideas.
She also revealed that WIPO and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) will sign an agreement in Geneva next month to expand intellectual property awareness, training, and opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises.
WIPO Director General Daren Tang said the Abuja office demonstrates the organization’s commitment to Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem. He noted that it will help transform research and innovation into commercially viable products while supporting industries such as Afrobeats and Nollywood in extracting greater value from their intellectual assets.
Tang described intellectual property as a powerful tool for creating jobs, attracting investment, and driving sustainable economic growth. He added that Nigeria, with more than 3,000 startups and seven unicorns, is well-positioned to become a major intellectual property and innovation hub in Africa.
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to building an intellectual property ecosystem that rewards creativity, research, entrepreneurship, and investment, with a focus on turning ideas into wealth, jobs, and economic opportunities.
WIPO’s decision to establish its regional office in Abuja is widely seen as a strong endorsement of Nigeria’s growing influence in innovation and the creative economy, further strengthening the country's ambition to become a leading intellectual property hub in Africa.
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