Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to building a robust intellectual property ecosystem following the official unveiling of the new Abuja office of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, disclosed that she hosted WIPO Director General, Daren Tang, and his delegation for high-level bilateral discussions focused on advancing Nigeria’s industrialisation and economic diversification agenda.

According to the minister, the discussions centred on strengthening collaboration between Nigeria and WIPO, with particular emphasis on leveraging intellectual property to drive innovation, attract investment, and support enterprise growth.

Following the bilateral meeting, government officials, private sector representatives, and other stakeholders participated in a roundtable session with the WIPO delegation to explore strategies for enhancing Nigeria’s intellectual property framework.

Oduwole noted that the implementation of the National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy (NIPPS) is now fully underway, describing intellectual property development as a critical component of the Federal Government’s economic transformation agenda.

She said the ministry remains committed to establishing a strong intellectual property system capable of attracting sustainable investments, accelerating technological innovation, and positioning Nigerian businesses to compete effectively in global markets.

The opening of the WIPO Nigeria Office is expected to strengthen cooperation between Nigeria and the United Nations agency, while providing greater support for innovators, creators, entrepreneurs, and businesses seeking to protect and commercialise intellectual property assets.