Arts and Culture Ministry to launch intellectual property policy to boost creative industry

By Oluwaseyi Lawal

The Ministry of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy has disclosed plans to introduce an Intellectual Property (IP) Policy.

The minister, Hannatu Musa Musawa, made this announcement during and interview on Arise TV where she emphasized that the policy is set to be launched within the next four weeks.

The statement highlighted that the policy, currently being developed in partnership with the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment, is anticipated to significantly enhance the protection and promotion of Nigeria’s creative industry.

Once finalized, the policy is anticipated to establish a strong framework for safeguarding intellectual property rights, creating a favorable environment for creativity and innovation to flourish.

It will offer clear guidelines for IP protection and enforcement, provide support for creatives in commercializing their work, encourage collaboration between Nigerian and international creatives, and promote innovation and entrepreneurship.

“One of the things that we knew was very important was to set up a regulatory and legal framework. We didn’t have a proper policy framework that could protect or support people or creators within the sector.

“So, we are working on an Intellectual Property policy, which is completely foundational, and there is an inter-ministerial committee that has been set up for that purpose.

“The Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment and I are driving that particular policy and, hopefully, within the next three to four weeks, that should be done. We are working together with the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) and World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) to also come up with an updated version of our culture policy that will be in line with the yearnings and the nuances of today.”

“We are committed to empowering our creatives and unlocking the full potential of our creative industry. This IP policy will be a major milestone in our journey towards becoming a global creative hub,” Musawa said.

The statement further mentioned that the minister has also consulted with local stakeholders, including creatives, industry experts, and legal professionals, to ensure the policy aligns with the needs of Nigeria’s creative community.

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