Oduwole Inaugurates National Intellectual Property Policy Implementation Committees

 

Dr. Jumoke Oduwole 

"The task before government is to ensure that the policy delivers real economic value to Nigerians by supporting innovation, enterprise growth, creativity, research and competitiveness." Oduwole 

 

In a move described as strategic, the government of Nigeria has taken a decisive step toward strengthening Nigeria’s intellectual property ecosystem with the inauguration of the National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy (NIPPS) Implementation Committees in Abuja.

Speaking at the event, the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, described the inauguration as a clear transition from years of policy development to focused execution. She noted that the approval of the NIPPS by the Federal Executive Council marked the completion of an extensive, consultative process involving government institutions, the private sector, academia, the creative economy and international partners.

According to her, the task before government is to ensure that the policy delivers real economic value to Nigerians by supporting innovation, enterprise growth, creativity, research and competitiveness.

Dr. Oduwole emphasized that implementation must be practical, coordinated and results-driven, stressing that reforms must translate into updated laws and regulations, modernised institutions, efficient digital systems, improved enforcement, and stronger pathways for commercialisation. She highlighted the importance of inter-ministerial and inter-agency collaboration, explaining that the newly inaugurated structures are designed to ensure alignment, accountability and discipline across all relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

She further explained that the Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee will provide strategic oversight, policy alignment and political support, while the Inter-Agency Coordination Group will drive day-to-day technical execution across institutions. She noted that these structures are not substitutes for institutional responsibility but mechanisms to ensure that all agencies move together toward shared national objectives. 

Dr. Oduwole reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to its coordinating role and charged members of the committees to treat implementation as a national economic reform priority in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, who co-chaired the inauguration and was represented by the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Beatrice Jedy-Agba, underscored the significance of the occasion as a shift from policy adoption to structured and accountable delivery. He described the NIPPS as a comprehensive framework capable of transforming creativity, innovation and indigenous knowledge into protected and commercially viable assets, while cautioning that these outcomes would only be realised through sustained reforms, coordination and technical discipline.

He explained that the Inter-Agency Coordination Group and the Technical Working Group were deliberately established to bridge the gap between policy ambition and execution. While the ICG will ensure institutional alignment, the Technical Working Group is expected to translate policy priorities into concrete actions, timelines and measurable outputs. He encouraged early progress on key areas such as the review of intellectual property laws, treaty ratifications and follow-through on the establishment of a Nigerian Intellectual Property Commission, noting that existing technical work provides a strong foundation for quick wins.

In his opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Ambassador Nura Abba Rimi, described the inauguration as a significant milestone for Nigeria. He noted that effective intellectual property systems globally support industrialization, trade competitiveness, investment attraction and innovation, and stated that Nigeria’s policy was deliberately designed as a whole-of-government framework. He commended the leadership of the Honourable Minister and the collaboration of Ministries, Agencies and stakeholders that delivered the policy, while calling for sustained teamwork and technical commitment during implementation in the national interest.

On behalf of the Implementation Committees, the Director-General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission, Dr. John Asein, gave an acceptance speech reaffirming the collective commitment of members to discharge their responsibilities diligently. He assured stakeholders that the committees would work collaboratively to deliver on the objectives of the NIPPS and translate policy intentions into meaningful outcomes for the country.

The inauguration signals the Federal Government’s resolve to ensure that Nigeria’s intellectual property system supports economic diversification, job creation, innovation-led growth and global competitiveness through coordinated and disciplined implementation.

This is contained in a statement issued and signed by Obilor-Duru  Augustina, Head Press and Public Relations Unit of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, FMITI.