The Nigerian Federal Government has approved a new intellectual property (IP) policy as part of its initiatives towards attracting $15 billion in investments and boosting Nigeria’s service export potential.

According to the Federal Executive Council, the initiative aims to:

• Attract over US$15 billion in foreign and domestic investment into the digital and creative industries.
• Contribute an additional US$10 billion annually to Nigeria’s GDP.
• Generate one million decent jobs within the service-export sector.
• Train 10 million Nigerians for global service-market roles.

A key feature of the plan is the creation of a National Coordination Mechanism for Service Exports, led by the National Talent Export Programme (NATEP). The platform will also coordinate initiatives such as the 3 Million Tech Talent (3MTT) programme, the Outsource to Nigeria Initiative (OTNI), and TechPro4Europe, aiming to position Nigeria as a leading global provider of digital and creative services.

The government emphasized the importance of an enabling IP framework to protect innovation and creative output, noting that a modernised IP regime can attract foreign investment and build investor confidence.

With the service economy already contributing more than half of Nigeria’s GDP but less than 10 percent of export revenues, the new policy is a shift toward unlocking the country’s untapped potential in the global knowledge and creative economy.

This policy signals greater opportunities in digital trade,  creativity, media, and technology sectors. Now more than ever, it also emphasizes the importance of IP protections, licensing frameworks, and cross-border regulatory compliance.

Here’s how business and investors in the industry can leverage this opportunity

• Assess whether their IP portfolios, licensing practices, and contractual safeguards are fit for an export-oriented ecosystem.
• Review and update contracts for cross-border services and creative exports. Pay careful attention to IP ownership, licensing, territorial rights, export compliance, and data protection.
• Map potential investment opportunities and joint-venture frameworks, in light of the US$15 billion target, new incentives, partnerships or regulatory allowances may emerge.
• Stay abreast with regulatory developments tied to the new policy. New bodies may step in, and statutory/regulatory amendments may follow, which will matter significantly.
• Position for the talent mobility programmes: under the 10 million-trainee objectives. To do this, they’ll need advice on talent-export agreements, IP rights associated, and global service supply.