The Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment (MCCTI), has reaffirmed its commitment to positioning Nigeria’s creative economy for global competitiveness.
The Commissioner, Mrs. Folashade Bada Ambrose-Medebem, said this at the “IP for Growth in Africa: Lagos Music Industry Workshop,” a three-day programme focused on strengthening intellectual property (IP) frameworks in the music industry.
She noted that about $286 million in music revenue remains uncollected in Nigeria and Kenya, representing lost jobs and economic opportunities. She also said Nigeria’s creative economy is a major driver, with the music industry contributing over N613 billion to the national economy.
“Nigeria’s Creative Economy is not merely a cultural asset; it is an economic powerhouse,” she said, adding that Lagos remains the centre of Africa’s creative industry.
The workshop, the first in the “IP for Growth in Africa” series, follows discussions at the WIPO General Assembly in Geneva, with another edition planned for South Africa in August.
U.S. Acting Consul in Lagos, Julia McKay, said the initiative highlights the strength of the U.S. intellectual property model and its partnerships with African creatives.
Ambrose-Medebem stressed that talent alone is not enough, calling for stronger legal frameworks, enforcement, and institutions to support the industry.
NCAC Director-General, Mr. Obi Asika, said Nigeria’s music industry has grown 5,000 per cent on Spotify in five years, driven largely without major government support. He also noted progress in national IP coordination and copyright reforms.
USPTO IP Attaché Katherine Hiner said IP-intensive industries account for 44 per cent of U.S. GDP and 49.6 million jobs, underscoring the value of strong IP systems.
Kolawole Fashola of The Temple Company urged stakeholders to better convert Nigeria’s global cultural influence into economic value, stressing the need for stronger systems to protect and monetise IP.
The workshop includes sessions on music publishing, licensing, digital distribution, and IP protection, with participation from U.S. and Nigerian industry leaders, supported by USPTO, WIPO, and NCAC.
