Intellectual Property (IP) remains one of the most powerful tools any entrepreneur or creator can possess. It defines ownership, drives innovation, and protects creativity. Yet, many small businesses still overlook its true importance. They often underestimate how IP shapes growth, enhances visibility, and ensures long-term sustainability.
This year, the National MSME Conference 2025, jointly hosted by the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and strategic partners, is changing that narrative. The conference brings together visionaries, policymakers, and industry experts to redefine how innovation and ownership fuel Nigeria’s creative and digital economy.
A major highlight will be a masterclass led by Mr. Tobi Moody, the Country Director of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). His session, titled “Who Owns It? Rethinking Intellectual Property in Nigeria’s Creative and Cultural Economy,” will empower entrepreneurs to view intellectual property as both a right and a growth engine.
Through this conversation, participants will discover how securing their ideas translates into protecting their future. Mr. Moody will explore real-world examples, showing how creators worldwide leverage IP to build global brands, attract investors, and unlock new revenue streams.
For many Nigerian entrepreneurs, innovation is abundant, yet protection remains limited. Without proper intellectual property strategies, brilliant ideas risk imitation or undervaluation. Therefore, understanding IP becomes more than compliance—it becomes strategy. With proper knowledge, small businesses can move from simply creating products to owning brands and dominating markets.
SMEDAN’s collaboration with WIPO and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) reinforces Nigeria’s push toward inclusive, knowledge-driven growth. By integrating IP education into entrepreneurship training, SMEDAN continues to strengthen the foundation for sustainable enterprise development. This approach aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes innovation, digital inclusion, and economic diversification.
The masterclass will also highlight how IP protection promotes equality and empowerment across the creative ecosystem. When entrepreneurs secure their innovations, they gain leverage, confidence, and control. They can license ideas, expand collaborations, and enter global markets with pride. This ensures innovation becomes profitable, not just inspirational.
Furthermore, discussions will focus on building a stronger IP culture nationwide. Participants will learn how to register trademarks, patents, and copyrights, while also exploring how Nigeria’s evolving digital infrastructure can support easier access to protection services. SMEDAN’s active role ensures MSMEs receive guidance not only to understand IP but also to apply it strategically.
The National MSME Conference 2025 is more than a networking event—it’s a movement toward economic transformation. Entrepreneurs, artists, and creators will leave empowered to claim ownership, negotiate value, and build resilient creative enterprises. They will also join a growing community that celebrates originality and respects innovation.
This initiative represents Nigeria’s renewed commitment to global competitiveness. With SMEDAN, WIPO, and NITDA working in synergy, small businesses gain the knowledge and tools needed to thrive in the knowledge economy. Every invention, every design, and every story deserves protection—and this masterclass makes that protection accessible.
To participate, click the link in the bio or story to register. Remember, protecting your ideas is not optional—it’s essential. When you understand Intellectual Property, you do more than secure your creativity; you secure your future.
