The Federal Government has revealed that Nigeria’s long-awaited National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy will be launched before the end of July, positioning the country to unlock more value from its creative and innovation-driven sectors.
Speaking virtually at a Lagos roadshow ahead of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) 2025, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, said the upcoming policy will serve as a major catalyst for creators, innovators, and small businesses looking to scale within the African market.
“This will be a game-changer for creators and innovators,” Oduwole said. “We must recognise the creative economy as a serious trade frontier.”
The IATF, organised by Afreximbank, the African Union, and the AfCFTA Secretariat, is Africa’s largest trade fair and business networking event. The 2025 edition will be hosted in Algiers, Algeria, from September 4 to 10, under the theme “Harnessing Regional and Continental Value Chains: Accelerating Africa’s Industrialisation and Global Competitiveness under the AfCFTA.”
Oduwole encouraged Nigerian businesses to seize the opportunity to expand across borders, calling the fair more than just an exhibition. “It’s a bridge to markets, partners, and policy dialogue,” she said, noting that Nigeria’s reforms are being aligned with AfCFTA objectives to boost exports and attract investment.
She also emphasised the value of platforms like Canex, which have helped showcase African culture as both an economic driver and a global export. “From fashion to film, food, music, Nigerian creatives are exporting stories and styles. We must lean into it,” she added.
The ministry is currently exploring partnerships with Afreximbank, Bank of Industry (BOI), and Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) to scale SME support, de-risk export transactions, and develop special economic zones as export hubs.
Backing the Minister’s remarks, NEPC CEO Nonye Ayeni called for a shift from ambition to execution. “Our SMEs are the engine of export-led growth. We are supporting them to standardise, brand, and access new markets across Africa,” she said.
Ayeni also announced the formation of a National Preparatory Committee for IATF2025, made up of stakeholders from government, industry, and the creative sector to ensure Nigeria’s participation is coordinated and impactful.
Nigeria has ranked among the top five exhibitors at previous IATF editions, contributing to over $43 billion in trade and investment deals since 2018. Stakeholders believe the country can exceed this performance in 2025.
Afreximbank Executive VP for Intra-African Trade, Kanayo Awani, emphasised the need for Nigeria’s creative, tech, and service sectors to take centre stage at the fair.
“We want more intra-African contracts signed by Nigerian businesses—not just buying and selling,” she said. Awani also revealed that Nigeria remains a top beneficiary of Afreximbank’s $40 billion trade financing programme, and encouraged businesses to leverage trade routes like Lagos–Dakar and Lagos–Abidjan under AfCFTA’s Guided Trade Initiative.
The Nigerian Pavilion at IATF2025 is expected to host over 150 companies across sectors, including manufacturing, agriculture, fashion, tech, film, and professional services. The FG hopes to use the event to promote Made-in-Nigeria goods, attract FDI, and highlight ongoing reforms in customs digitisation, trade facilitation, and logistics infrastructure.
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