Minister of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa, on Monday disclosed that the intellectual property policy is crucial to achieving the $100 billion contribution to the nation’s GDP.
Barrister Musawa disclosed this in Abuja during the stakeholder engagement forum on national intellectual property policy and strategy held at the instance of the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, & Investment.
While acknowledging that ideas are the foundation of human existence, she harped on the need for the “protection of ideas, and more importantly, the acknowledgement of the significance of ideas to our development is thus paramount.
“The invention of new medicines and seeds, the creation of new industrial processes, the composition of music, the writings of literature—these are all key pillars of society that make for a richer existence.
“Our cultural and traditional innovations need protection; our foods and products need documenting and marketing to the benefit of our people.
“We are in the age of ideas. The expression of these ideas continues to create and power great cities around the world, allowing us to be in constant and instant communication, curing a global health pandemic, and winning us here in Nigeria positive global recognition and influence across food, music, and fashion. We must adequately protect the expression of ideas as well as create the enabling environment for these expressions to grow and bear fruit in order for us to have the kind of leapfrog growth and development our people need and hope for.”
While stressing the importance of collaboration between government and private sector with a view to establishing a much-needed national position on the protection of Nigerian ideation, culture, arts, and knowhow embodied in an intellectual property policy, she assured that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration resolves to focus on promoting and attracting investments and partnerships in and to Nigeria by creating “the right framework that encourages ease of doing business, serves the public interest, and helps us attract investment into the cultural and creative sectors of the economy.
“As we move forward from today’s engagement, let us do so with a shared understanding that ideas are not just the currency of progress; they are the heart of our future. The protection of intellectual property is essential for empowering our creators, safeguarding our cultural heritage, and driving innovation across every sector.
“Together, we can build a framework that not only protects but also nurtures the unique expressions of our people, ensuring they flourish both locally and on the global stage. This forum marks the beginning of a collective journey to establish a robust intellectual property policy that reflects the spirit of Nigeria’s ingenuity, creativity, and potential.”
On her part, Minister of Industry, Trade & Investment, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, disclosed that the Intellectual Property Policy will be launched next week.
While noting that the stakeholders’ engagement forum was organised to re-validate the draft National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy for Nigeria, she maintained that “intellectual property is a crucial element in a country’s economic development and innovation landscape. It is imperative that we as a country have a comprehensive and effective policy in place to protect and promote our intellectual assets.
“We are here today to re-validate the National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy for Nigeria. Although the policy and strategy document was first developed and adopted in 2022, it was considered expedient to conduct another review in light of new concerns that have emerged in Nigeria’s intellectual property landscape since the initial review. This is to ensure that all fresh observations that are deemed necessary are included in the document.
“This workshop is expected to validate the review conducted by the Inter-Ministerial Committee established by the Honourable Ministers of Industry, Trade, and Investment and Art, Culture, and Creative Economy in order to have a firm document to be presented for the government’s approval. Your valuable insights as a contributor to the initial draft make your participation essential to this important endeavour.
“As a Ministry, we understand the immense potential that intellectual property holds for driving economic growth, fostering innovation, and attracting investment in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of repositioning the country for economic growth and sustainable development.
“It is essential that we align our policies and strategies with global best practices to ensure that Nigeria remains competitive in the ever-evolving global marketplace, as boldly encapsulated in the Renewed Hope Agenda of this Administration.
“This workshop therefore affords all stakeholders the opportunity to make final inputs on the draft policy. I have full confidence in the abilities of the members of this forum to undertake this important task diligently and professionally. Your expertise and dedication will be invaluable in shaping a policy that reflects the needs and aspirations of our country and ensures that our intellectual property rights are protected and promoted.
“This workshop provides a platform for robust discussions and exchanges of ideas that will help us refine and strengthen the draft policy and strategy. I urge you to approach this task with a sense of purpose and urgency, as the outcomes of your work will have far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s economic future.”
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