Nigeria and EUIPO sign MoU to strengthen IP collaboration

In a step towards fostering intellectual property (IP) rights and promoting innovation, the Nigeria Industrial Property Office (NIPO) and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The agreement was signed during a high-level bilateral meeting between the EUIPO and the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI) in Geneva, on the margins of the WIPO General Assembly. The MoU establishes a framework for bilateral cooperation between the two organisations.

The agreement confirms the intention of the Trademark Registry of the FMITI to integrate European Union Intellectual Property Network (EUIPN) tools, such as TMview and TMclass, into its own systems. The MoU establishes that the parties will cooperate in various areas to align trade mark examination practices, share IP management experience and develop joint initiatives in areas of priority interest such as enforcement, IP awareness, and education. Furthermore, it aims to strengthen cooperation and bolster institutional capacity to benefit businesses and users of the IP system in Nigeria.

The EUIPO and the Nigerian authorities collaborate under the AfrIPI project, and this agreement is the result of their continuous efforts to establish a mutually beneficial, sustainable, and long-term partnership. Through this revitalised agreement, both institutions are primed to make substantial progress in stimulating economic growth, fostering an innovation-oriented culture and protecting IP rights in Nigeria while contributing to the overall progress and advancement of Africa.