Vice President Kashim Shettima has declared that countries capable of harnessing innovation, creativity and intellectual assets will dominate the global economy in the coming decades, as Nigeria moves to strengthen its partnership with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).
Shettima made the remarks during a high-level meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja with a delegation from WIPO led by its Director-General, Daren Tang, alongside senior Nigerian government officials.
The meeting focused on deepening cooperation between Nigeria and the global intellectual property body, with both sides agreeing to explore new ways of transforming intellectual property into tangible economic value.
The collaboration is expected to promote the commercialisation of research conducted in Nigerian universities, support the country’s creative sector, and enhance technical and institutional capacity across key industries.
Addressing the delegation, the Vice President said Nigeria was determined to establish an intellectual property system that benefits innovators, investors, researchers, entrepreneurs and creators across different sectors of the economy.
According to him, the country’s vision is to build an environment where ideas are properly protected and transformed into wealth-generating assets.
“We believe that the future belongs to nations that understand the dignity of the mind and the economy of ideas,” Shettima stated.
He noted that the administration of President Bola Tinubu is laying the foundation for an economy in which innovation is safeguarded, intellectual assets are properly valued, and investors can operate with confidence.
Shettima explained that the government’s economic agenda recognises the growing importance of technology, data, knowledge, brands, culture and innovation in driving prosperity in the modern world.
“The foresight of His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu, through the Renewed Hope Agenda, is anchored in unlocking productivity, expanding economic opportunity, attracting investment, creating jobs, and positioning Nigeria for long-term prosperity.
“At the heart of this agenda is a clear recognition that value in today’s economy is increasingly created through ideas, technology, innovation, data, brands, culture and knowledge.
”The countries that will lead this century are those able to create, protect, commercialise and scale intellectual assets, ” he said.
The Vice President also welcomed WIPO’s decision to establish an office in Abuja, describing it as a significant milestone for Nigeria and the African continent.
He noted that the facility would be the organisation’s first office in Sub-Saharan Africa and one of only a handful globally.
He recalled that the Federal Executive Council approved the National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy in November 2025, describing it as Nigeria’s first comprehensive framework for protecting, managing and commercialising intellectual property.
Shettima expressed optimism that stronger collaboration with WIPO would lead to greater technical cooperation, expanded capacity-building programmes and practical opportunities for converting Nigerian creativity and research into commercially viable products.
He further stressed that with the right investments in innovation, education and skills development, Nigeria could play a leading role in driving Africa’s economic transformation.
As part of efforts to strengthen the partnership, the Vice President directed the Ministries of Justice, Industry, Trade and Investment, as well as Art, Culture and Creative Economy, to develop a comprehensive roadmap for future engagement with WIPO.
On his part, WIPO Director-General Daren Tang reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s development ambitions.
Tang described his visit as particularly significant because it coincided with two major milestones, the opening of WIPO’s Abuja office and the implementation of Nigeria’s National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy.
He said the decision to establish the office in Nigeria reflected the country’s growing influence within the global intellectual property ecosystem.
According to him, Nigerian innovators, entrepreneurs and creative professionals are already making a significant impact internationally and are increasingly becoming examples of success for other African countries.
Tang also praised the Federal Government for introducing the National IP Strategy, expressing confidence that it would contribute to economic growth, job creation and increased investment.
He revealed that more than 3,000 Nigerian startups, including seven unicorn companies, were attracting substantial investment capital, demonstrating the increasing importance of intellectual property in emerging economies.
Also speaking at the meeting, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, said the visit underscored the growing partnership between Nigeria and WIPO in strengthening the nation’s intellectual property framework.
Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, highlighted the ministry’s commitment to initiatives aimed at creating jobs and expanding opportunities within the creative sector.
Similarly, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, said previous engagements between Nigeria and WIPO had already produced notable outcomes, including the establishment of the Abuja office, which she described as evidence of the government’s commitment to innovation, trade, investment and the creative economy.
The meeting concluded with renewed commitments from both Nigeria and WIPO to work closely in building a stronger intellectual property ecosystem capable of driving economic growth, attracting investment and unlocking the country’s vast creative and innovative potential.
