The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), Dr Jumoke Oduwole, has said the newly inaugurated National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy (NIPSS) committee and inter-agency coordination group will help establish Nigeria’s intellectual property ecosystem as a globally competitive asset.
Speaking during the formal inauguration of the committee at the weekend, the minister said the Federal Government is now transitioning from policy formulation to active and immediate execution. The National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy was officially launched last month in Lagos.
Dr Oduwole explained that over the past five years, the ministry has carried out an extensive and inclusive audit of Nigeria’s intellectual property landscape. According to her, the process was designed to ensure that the country’s national priorities align with evolving continental and global intellectual property frameworks.
“It is up to us now to drive swift institutional reforms and deliver tangible benefits to Nigerian innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, creators, farmers and businesses,” she said.
She noted that the policy is structured around clearly defined programmes and projects, sequenced across short, medium and long-term timelines. The strategy is built on five key priority areas, beginning with legal and regulatory reform.
This first pillar includes reviews of existing patent, designs and trademarks legislation, as well as the development of new legal frameworks covering trade secrets, geographical indications and traditional medical knowledge.
The second priority area focuses on institutional modernisation. This includes the automation of intellectual property registration systems, strengthening examination and technical capacity across registries, the operationalisation of the Plant Variety Protection Office, and the development of a roadmap towards an integrated Nigerian Intellectual Property Commission.
The minister said these reforms are expected to strengthen confidence in Nigeria’s IP system, attract investment, and unlock greater value from innovation and creativity across the economy.
