Federal Govt Unveils Intellectual Property Policy To Unlock Value For Creators, Others

The federal government has unveiled Nigeria’s National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy (NIPPS), a comprehensive framework aimed at transforming the country’s creative and innovative capacity into sustainable economic value for businesses, creators and investors.

The policy, approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on November 6, 2025, represents a strategic shift in positioning intellectual property (IP) as critical economic infrastructure rather than a purely legal concern.

Speaking at the public presentation, the minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, said the policy was designed to address longstanding challenges around monetisation, access to capital and business scalability for Nigerian innovators and creative enterprises.

“Nigerians are incredibly prolific in innovation and creativity, but the key question has always been how to monetise these ideas, ensure access to capital and allow businesses to scale without being acquired cheaply by foreign interests,” Oduwole said.

She noted that, more than 50 per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product now comes from services, including the creative economy, tourism, science and technology, making a robust IP framework essential for economic diversification and MSME growth.

Representing the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, director of Policy Planning, Research and Statistics, Yiwa Joseph, explained that, the policy introduces a whole-of-government approach, cutting across industry, trade, justice, culture, education, science and technology.

“An effective intellectual property ecosystem must allow rights to be registered efficiently, protected credibly, commercialised practically and enforced fairly for creators, entrepreneurs, investors and government,” Joseph said.

The director general of the Nigerian Copyright Commission, John Asein, representing the Attorney General and minister of Justice, said the policy adopts a people-centred approach that places Nigerian creators and innovators at its core.

According to him, NIPPS is designed to remain accessible, balanced and responsive, particularly in the context of digital transformation, artificial intelligence, data-driven creativity and cross-border services that are reshaping value creation globally.

The policy outlines over 57 programmes and projects with timelines ranging from one to five years. Key initiatives include the review of the Patents and Designs Trademarks Act, the operationalisation of the Plant Variety Protection Office, and deeper collaboration with innovation hubs, research institutions and MSMEs.

Registrar of Patents and Designs at the ministry, Jane Igwe, said the policy went through extensive revalidation after consultations with more than 200 stakeholder groups who expressed concerns about inadequate protection under previous frameworks.

The NIPPS also aligns with Nigeria’s obligations under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), where trade in goods, services and digital commerce increasingly intersects with intellectual property rights.