MRA Urges Overhaul of Nigeria’s Intellectual Property Laws to Protect Rights and Boost Innovation
Oru Leonard
Lagos, Nigeria— The Media Rights Agenda (MRA), has called for a sweeping reform of Nigeria’s intellectual property (IP) laws, urging the Federal Government to adopt a modern, rights-respecting framework that promotes creativity, innovation, and access to information.
In a statement marking this year’s World Intellectual Property Day, MRA described the country’s current intellectual property regime as fragmented and outdated, warning that it limits creativity, discourages investment, and constrains freedom of expression.
Speaking on behalf of the organisation, Programme Officer Ayomide Eweje stressed the urgent need for reforms that align with global realities and digital advancements.
“Nigeria needs an intellectual property protection system that is modern, efficient, rights-respecting, and development-oriented,” she said, noting that existing frameworks hinder access, innovation, and creative growth.
MRA highlighted that the annual observance of World Intellectual Property Day, under the auspices of the World Intellectual Property Organization, offers stakeholders an opportunity to reflect on the balance between protecting creators’ rights and ensuring public access to knowledge.
The organisation emphasized the need to modernize and harmonize Nigeria’s IP laws, particularly by introducing clear provisions on digital assets, online content usage, artificial intelligence-generated works, and ownership rights.
According to MRA, outdated laws create uncertainty for innovators, investors, and content creators operating in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
The group also called for stronger public interest safeguards, including expanded exceptions for education, research, libraries, archives, journalism, and public-interest reporting. Without such protections, MRA warned, intellectual property laws could become barriers to education, investigative journalism, and civic engagement.
Additionally, MRA urged policymakers to clarify the relationship between IP laws and the Freedom of Information Act, cautioning against the misuse of intellectual property claims to block access to information of public interest.
It noted that some public institutions often invoke copyright or confidentiality to deny legitimate information requests.
On digital content regulation, the organisation called for clearly defined responsibilities for online platforms in managing copyrighted materials, alongside balanced notice-and-takedown mechanisms that prevent both infringement and arbitrary censorship.
MRA further advocated for open access to government-funded knowledge, recommending the adoption of open licensing frameworks, open data policies, and publicly accessible repositories for research and educational materials.
Reaffirming its commitment to freedom of expression and media rights, the organisation stressed that intellectual property systems must strike a fair balance between rewarding creators and safeguarding the public interest.
“In an increasingly digital world, overly restrictive intellectual property regimes can limit access to educational materials, stifle innovation, and constrain journalistic activities,” Ms. Eweje stated.
She also underscored the challenges faced by journalists and media professionals in using copyrighted materials for investigative reporting, calling on policymakers to ensure that such use is adequately protected in the public interest.
MRA concluded by urging the government to promote inclusive, forward-looking policies that support creators, prevent monopolistic practices, and ensure that intellectual property laws do not become tools for restricting access to information or suppressing public discourse.
(MRA Media, 26 April. 2026)
