WIPO Unveils Nigeria-Specific Intellectual Property Benchbook to Enhance Judicial Adjudication

In a significant development for intellectual property adjudication in Nigeria, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has introduced a dedicated Intellectual Property Benchbook designed specifically for the Nigerian judiciary. This publication is part of WIPO’s Global IP Benchbook Series and represents the first national contribution from Sub-Saharan Africa.

The Benchbook was developed through close collaboration between WIPO and the Nigerian judiciary, facilitated by the National Judicial Institute (NJI). It builds on a broader regional initiative led by the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization aimed at strengthening judicial resources for IP adjudication across the African continent.

Nigeria’s creative and innovative industries, including the globally influential Nollywood film industry, internationally recognized Nigerian music, and a rapidly expanding technology and start-up ecosystem, have generated substantial economic impact. Effective legal institutions capable of handling the complexities and fast pace of modern IP disputes are essential to fully harness this transformative potential.

The Benchbook provides jurisdiction-specific, practical, and authoritative guidance tailored to Nigeria’s legal context, designed to enhance the adjudication of intellectual property cases within the country.

On June 2, 2026, during his official visit to Nigeria, WIPO Director General Daren Tang met with senior members of the Nigerian judiciary. The delegation was led by Hon. Justice John Inyang Okoro, JSC, OFR, Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and Chairman of the Education Committee of the NJI’s Board of Governors, alongside the NJI Administrator and Directors.

At this engagement, Director General Tang and the judiciary representatives formally launched the Intellectual Property Benchbook: Intellectual Property Adjudication in Nigeria. This event marked a milestone as the first national contribution from Sub-Saharan Africa to WIPO’s Global IP Benchbook Series.

The discussions also addressed strategies to strengthen judicial capacity-building, promote alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, and prepare the judiciary to tackle emerging IP challenges arising from digital technologies and artificial intelligence.

The Intellectual Property Benchbook Series forms part of WIPO’s broader efforts to support judiciaries worldwide by providing judicial dialogue, resources, and training that facilitate fair and effective IP enforcement. Through the WIPO Lex platform, the IP community gains access to global legal knowledge and insights.

The creation of the Benchbook followed sustained engagement between WIPO and the Nigerian judiciary, including a Judicial Workshop held on April 2 and 3, 2025. This workshop convened 21 judges from 13 Judicial Divisions of the Federal High Court, who engaged in discussions on IP dispute resolution, remedies, criminal infringement, and case management, while providing direct feedback on the draft Benchbook.