Don calls for urgent reform of Nigeria’s intellectual property system amid digital challenges

A university professor has urged the Nigerian government to undertake immediate reforms to strengthen the country’s Intellectual Property (IP) system in the face of rapid digital evolution.

Professor Wole Adedeji of Obafemi Awolowo University’s Faculty of Law made the call in a lecture titled “Efficacy of the Current Nigerian Intellectual Property System in Today’s Digital World,” delivered at an event celebrating legal practitioner Akeem Aponmade’s 60th birthday.

Represented by Dr. Enobong Ogundari, Adedeji explained that technological advancement, global connectivity, and borderless digital platforms have made IP protection increasingly complex.

While digital technology offers creators new revenue streams through improved distribution and licensing, it also poses significant risks, including widespread piracy due to the unauthorized copying and sharing of digital content.

Adedeji identified critical gaps in Nigeria’s legal framework, notably the country’s absence from key international and regional IP bodies such as the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO) and the Patent Cooperation Treaty.

He argued that joining and domesticating these treaties would enhance cross-border recognition and protection for Nigerian creators.

He also highlighted low public awareness of IP rights and called on government agencies, especially the National Orientation Agency, to launch nationwide sensitization campaigns to foster a culture of respect for creativity and ethical online behavior.

To empower creators, Adedeji recommended providing affordable legal services, simplifying registration processes, and offering guidance on licensing and monetization.

He further stressed the need for institutional reforms to address administrative bottlenecks within the Trademarks, Patents, and Designs Registry.

“Nigeria must act urgently because the challenges of the digital world will only intensify. But with the right measures, the country can protect creators, attract investment, and strengthen its innovation ecosystem,” Adedeji said.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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