Why Nigeria is reforming its digital trade and intellectual property systems

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) of Nigeria has approved four new policy proposals aimed at enhancing the country’s knowledge and digital economy.

The approval, announced on Thursday, November 6, 2025, includes key programmes such as the National Coordination Mechanism for Services Exports, led by the National Talent Export Programme (NATEP), the National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy (NIPPS), and the ratification of the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade.

According to a statement from the presidency, “These policies are designed to strengthen Nigeria’s intellectual property ecosystem, unlock opportunities in digital trade, and expand the country’s footprint in the global services export market.”

Why digital trade and intellectual property systems reform

Dr Jumoke Oduwole, the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, introduced these reforms, which, according to her, aim to protect Nigeria’s digital trading system, intellectual property, and boost the export of services.

Nigeria’s intellectual property laws, which were mostly established in the 1960s, have long been out of step with the demands of the digital economy.

Although early protection for creators and inventors was provided by foundational laws such as the Copyright Act, Patents and Designs Act, and Trademarks Act, these laws have struggled to keep pace with the rapid advances in technology.

To close this gap, the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) and more than 200 local stakeholders collaborated to create the National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy (NIPPS). It is the first comprehensive framework for protecting intellectual property rights and commercialisation in Nigeria.

Additionally, to automate digital filing systems for intellectual property assets and streamline operations, the policy recommends consolidating the registers for trademarks, patents, and designs under a single commission.

The effort would facilitate faster and more transparent intellectual property registration for creators and enterprises, with technical support from WIPO.

NIPPS’s efforts to consider intellectual property as a financial asset are equally important. It provides entrepreneurs and inventors with a legitimate opportunity to utilise their intellectual property rights as collateral for loans, thereby creating new avenues for funding.

The strategy also aims to integrate IP education into universities, polytechnics, and research institutions to strengthen the innovation culture and ensure that the next generation of Nigerian creators knows how to safeguard and market their ideas.

“The policy connects innovators, creators, and investors to turn ideas into economic assets, transforming creativity into capital,” the State House stated.

Nigeria’s leadership position in forming Africa’s developing digital economy was further cemented when the FEC passed the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Protocol on Digital Trade.

The protocol aims to create standards for cybersecurity, data governance, e-commerce, and consumer protection across the continent.

Nigeria aims to establish a predictable environment for online transactions and cross-border digital business by harmonising its digital trade systems with those of other African nations, thereby adhering to these regulations.

The presidency said, “It establishes continent-wide standards for e-commerce, data governance, cybersecurity, and consumer protection, providing a predictable environment for digital transactions.”

Nigeria now leads Africa’s $3.4 trillion single market with this ratification, opening the door for the expansion of fintech, e-commerce, and creative technology businesses.

The decision is made at a time when Nigeria’s digital sector is already among the most thriving on the continent, thanks to businesses that are revolutionising how Africans trade, pay, and create.

Using talent, data, and ideas to create growth

The National Coordination Mechanism for Services Exports, the third pillar of reform, aims to expand Nigeria’s global presence in professional and digital outsourced services.

Under the direction of NATEP, the initiative aims to increase GDP by $10 billion annually and create one million new jobs by 2030.

Nigeria aims to establish itself as Africa’s outsourcing hub by expanding its capacity in digital services, offering competitive talent in areas such as digital marketing, software development, and creative design.

In Nigeria’s economic transition, “the three reforms signal a bold new chapter where ideas, data, and talent drive growth, industrialisation, and sustainable prosperity,” the presidency stated.

When combined, these policies show a strategic shift rather than merely being bureaucratic tweaks. The Nigerian government is staking its future growth on knowledge, innovation, and intellectual capital.