Abuja: Dr John Asein, Director-General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), has called for the integration of general Intellectual Property (IP) education into the curricula of Nigerian universities. He made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of a meeting with winners of the 2025 WIPO Nigeria National Essay Competition in Abuja. The meeting was part of a study visit by the winners and for them to also present policy recommendations to the commission, and as well understand its statutory operations.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the push for IP education in universities is part of a wider effort by the NCC to promote a strong culture of respect for IP rights from an early age. Asein emphasized that Nigeria, as a leading creative hub in Africa, requires its younger generation to have a clear understanding of IP and copyrights to effectively maximize its creative potential. He highlighted the need for tertiary institutions to introduce students and faculties to IP subjects to align with global trends and enhance the global competitiveness of Nigerian universities.
Asein clarified that the proposal is not to establish a full course on IP but to include modules on IP as part of general studies. He noted the importance for students in fields like Fine Arts, business, and sciences to understand their rights and the value of IP in their respective domains. The NCC plans to support this initiative by providing easily digestible materials and opportunities to promote this educational integration.
He mentioned that the commission recently presented the revised Model IP policy to the General Assembly of the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVCNU). Developed in collaboration with CVCNU in 2021, the model policy was reissued to encourage its adoption and implementation. Asein stressed the importance of educating future innovators and creators about intellectual property, starting at the university level.
He urged universities to incorporate the WIPO Distance Learning 101 course on IP, which is available online for free, into their General Studies curricula. This, he believes, will equip students with essential IP knowledge. Asein also congratulated the winners of the 2025 essay competition, noting they will be made Ambassadors of the commission in its fight against copyright infringements.
In his remarks, Dr Tobi Moody, Director of the WIPO Nigeria Office, praised the NCC for its commitment to IP and copyright issues and its support for the annual essay competition. The National Essay Competition, which began in 2020, aims to engage tertiary institution students with IP knowledge. The 2025 competition theme was ‘IP and Music: Harnessing Nigeria’s Music Industry for Economic Growth.’ Moody acknowledged the role of the Copyright Commission in the judging process and expressed gratitude to the Director-General for his support.
Moody reported that the competition received 188 entries, reviewed by 20 judges over four months. The process resulted in 17 finalists and three top winners, who will receive further training abroad as part of their scholarship awards.