Nigeria launches National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy to boost innovation, trade and regional competitiveness

In November 2025, Nigeria officially launched its National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy (NIPPS), marking a major milestone in the country’s efforts to modernise its intellectual property (IP) regime and enhance its role in intra-African trade and innovation. The policy, approved by the Federal Executive Council in November and formally launched in December 2025, was developed under the leadership of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment with technical support from the World Intellectual Property Organization.

NIPPS represents Nigeria’s first unified national framework for IP protection, commercialisation and governance. It aims to strengthen legal and institutional frameworks for IP administration, enhance enforcement mechanisms, promote technology transfer and commercialisation, and foster human resource capacity development. The policy was developed through a multi-year, multi-stakeholder process, involving government, academia, the private sector and development partners.

In a key step toward its implementation, the Federal Government inaugurated specialised committees in January 2026 to drive the policy’s execution. These include an Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee and an Inter-Agency Coordination Group, tasked with ensuring coordinated action across government agencies, monitoring progress, and aligning implementation with national economic priorities and Nigeria’s obligations under the AfCFTA Intellectual Property Protocol. The policy also places emphasis on alignment with international standards, including the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights and regional protocols like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) IP Protocol. This alignment is expected to enhance Nigeria’s IP system for regional market access and cross-border recognition of IP assets, as well as position the country as a hub for innovation and IP value creation in West and Central Africa.

Legal reform, administrative modernisation and targeted support for sectors such as the creative economy, agriculture, technology and traditional knowledge protection are among the strategic priorities outlined under NIPPS. By facilitating the commercial use of IP assets, the policy aims to attract investment, support small and medium-sized enterprises, and strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness in the knowledge economy.

As the implementation gets underway, stakeholders expect that NIPPS will play a crucial role in transforming IP from a largely regulatory tool into a strategic economic asset, unlocking new opportunities for innovation, trade and sustainable development across the Nigerian economy and the wider African continent.