The Federal Government has inaugurated the National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy (NIPPS) Implementation Committees, marking a decisive shift from policy formulation to coordinated action aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s intellectual property (IP) ecosystem.
At the inauguration ceremony in Abuja, the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, said the move signaled the end of years of consultations and planning and the beginning of focused, results-driven execution.
This was contained in a statement on Friday, 16th January, 2026, by Obilor-Duru Augustina, Head, Press and Public Relations to the Ministry.
Dr. Oduwole noted that the NIPPS, approved by the Federal Executive Council, was developed through extensive engagement with government institutions, the private sector, academia, the creative economy and international partners.
According to the minister, the central task ahead is to ensure that the policy delivers tangible economic benefits by supporting innovation, enterprise growth, creativity, research and national competitiveness.
She stressed that implementation must go beyond intent to practical outcomes, including updated laws and regulations, modernised institutions, efficient digital systems, improved enforcement mechanisms and stronger pathways for commercialisation.
Dr. Oduwole highlighted inter-ministerial and inter-agency collaboration as critical to success, explaining that the newly inaugurated structures are designed to ensure alignment, accountability and discipline across Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
She said the Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee will provide strategic oversight and political support, while the Inter-Agency Coordination Group will manage day-to-day technical execution.
“These committees are not substitutes for institutional responsibility,” she said, “but mechanisms to ensure that all relevant agencies move together toward shared national objectives.”
The Minister reaffirmed the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment’s coordinating role and urged committee members 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 event and was represented by the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Beatrice Jedy-Agba, described the inauguration as a transition from policy adoption to structured and accountable delivery.
Mr Fagbemi said the NIPPS provides a comprehensive framework to transform creativity, innovation and indigenous knowledge into protected and commercially viable assets, but warned that success would depend on sustained reforms and technical discipline.
He explained that the Inter-Agency Coordination Group and the Technical Working Group were established to close the gap between policy ambition and execution. While the coordination group will ensure institutional alignment, the technical working group is tasked with translating priorities into concrete actions, timelines and measurable outcomes.
The AGF urged early progress on reviewing IP laws, advancing treaty ratifications and following through on the establishment of a Nigerian Intellectual Property Commission.
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 major milestone for the country.
He noted that effective IP systems globally underpin industrialisation, trade competitiveness, investment attraction and innovation, adding that Nigeria’s policy was deliberately designed as a whole-of-government framework.
Speaking on behalf of the implementation committees, the Director-General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission, Dr. John Asein, pledged the collective commitment of members to work collaboratively and deliver the objectives of the NIPPS, translating policy intentions into measurable national outcomes.
The inauguration underscores the Federal Government’s resolve to deploy intellectual property as a strategic tool for economic diversification, job creation, innovation-led growth and enhanced global competitiveness through disciplined and coordinated implementation.