I most heartily congratulate you all, the fifteen (15) wonderful, young, dynamic and intelligent winners of the 2020 WIPO National Intellectual Property (IP) Essay Competition which was organized by the WIPO Nigerian Office as part of the activities to mark last year’s World Intellectual Property Day.

Permit me to specially congratulate Ms. Susan Chioma Omeh of the Faculty of Law, University of Nigeria who emerged as the overall winner of the essay competition. I also commend Ms. Chantelle Chiwetalu, of the same faculty and Mr. Olanrewaju Toheeb Balogun of the Faculty of Law, Lagos State University, Ojo who came as first and second runners up respectively.

The theme of last year’s celebrations and the topic of the essay: “Making Innovation Work for a Green Future in Nigeria” does not only speak to the global issue of the environment but has some metaphoric significance for Nigeria.  Of course as you all know green is a dominant colour with special significance for Nigeria as a land of fertility, prosperity and abundance. If I may quote our overall winner: “This competition is a laudable step at grooming . . . the larger society to exploit the immeasurable opportunities that a robust IP System holds for us all. . . . We should not sleep on it.” I am also pleased that the first runner, Ms. Chantelle Chiwetalu who at some point thought IP was overhyped as a course in her university has since changed her perspective. According to her, she now realizes that a lot more work need to be done.

As winners and finalists of the maiden competition, you represent the product of a new dawn in the relationship between WIPO and Nigeria; a new beginning in the strategic dissemination of IP knowledge amongst students and young persons.  You are the bright hope of a better Nigeria where the value of IP as an inexhaustible national resource is well appreciated and accorded due respect at every level of society. We see all around us a generation of vibrant, determined and committed young creators, innovators and entrepreneurs and it is my belief that with the appropriate support, they can use the intellectual property system to bring about rapid turn-around in the economic fortunes of our great nation.

You therefore represent those millions of young and talented Nigerians on whose shoulders the enormous weight of national development would rest in years to come.

Creativity and innovation have become the universal currency in today’s technology driven, knowledge-based economy. Fortunately, there are very few barriers and is increasingly dominated by the younger generation; your generation; the digital generation. I am therefore delighted that we have a credible essay competition that would give a voice to your generation in the policy space.

It is our collective responsibility to make intellectual property work for a greener, safer and more prosperous Nigeria. Therefore, in addition to the recognition and reward from the WIPO, the Nigerian Copyright Commission is also appointing the fifteen finalists in the last edition of the essay competition as Copyright Ambassadors to your respective institutions. Your success at the competition is not only a demonstration of your personal interest in intellectual property as a subject, but even more importantly, it also shows a commitment to the enduring human values on which the system is founded. It is our hope that as Ambassadors, you will among other things:

• Assist in the dissemination of copyright knowledge;
• Initiate relevant programmes and activities to promote respect for copyright and other forms of intellectual property;
• Serve as liaison between your institution and the Commission on matters of copyright and provide feedback to the Commission on various aspects of intellectual property to assist in policy formulation and implementation;
• Carry out any other assignments as may be required by the Commission.

As you are already aware, the Commission already collaborating with the Association of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (AVCNU), the National Universities Commission and other stakeholders to develop a Model IP Policy for Nigerian Universities. The Policy, when completed, will provide guidance on legally safe and sustainable use of IP in Nigerian tertiary institutions and provide a template for other areas of pro-active intervention. As Copyright Ambassadors and frontline stakeholders in your academic communities, your inputs will be required in the formulation and implementation of that Policy.

While Government and its constituent organs will continue to provide legislative and administrative frameworks, the ultimate responsibility for the sustainable use of any IP system lies with the critical stakeholders. This is one reason why the Commission we must not relent in our dissemination of IP knowledge.

Together we can ensure that the intellectual property system in Nigeria provides the required support for the growth of our creative and innovation industries. Together we must make the IP system work in Nigeria and for Nigeria.

As you are aware, the Commission is intensifying its antipiracy campaign and is encouraging more respect for copyright. We are also building capacity for various professionals who would provide the needed support services which is also very critical to the effective use of the intellectual property system.

With your appointment today as Copyright Ambassadors, you have now been inducted into our Copyright Hall of Fame!

Congratulations!

May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria and prosper our IP regime.