O. KAYODE & CO

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Counterfeit pharmaceuticals remain one of the most serious brand protection and public health challenges in the Nigerian...
22/05/2026

Counterfeit pharmaceuticals remain one of the most serious brand protection and public health challenges in the Nigerian market.

In Nigeria, pharmaceutical brand protection typically involves three coordinated layers. NAFDAC's market surveillance and post-market monitoring operations provide regulatory authority to act against substandard and counterfeit medicines. The Nigerian Customs Service IPR unit monitors border entry points for infringing imports. And where criminal conduct is established, prosecution through the appropriate courts may follow civil enforcement actions.

Navigating this model requires direct working relationships with officials at each agency — not merely an understanding of the statutory framework.

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Nigerian fashion has moved well beyond local markets. Designers are reaching buyers in London, New York, and Dubai throu...
20/05/2026

Nigerian fashion has moved well beyond local markets. Designers are reaching buyers in London, New York, and Dubai through a combination of e-commerce, international stockists, and social media distribution.

The intellectual property infrastructure supporting that growth, however, is often underdeveloped.

Three layers of IP protection typically apply to a fashion brand operating at scale. First, the brand name and logo require trademark registration in each jurisdiction where the goods are sold or promoted — not just in Nigeria. Second, original textile patterns, surface designs, and artistic elements may qualify for copyright protection, which subsists automatically under the Copyright Act 2022 but is far easier to enforce with formal registration through the Nigerian Copyright Commission. Third, distinctive product shapes, packaging, and ornamentation may qualify for industrial design registration, providing an additional layer of protection against copycat products.

Each layer serves a different function. None of them substitutes for the others.

For Nigerian designers building brands with international ambitions, understanding which protections apply — and in which markets — is an early and important conversation.

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The NIPPS 2026 framework aims to change this. The implementation committees inaugurated earlier this year are tasked wit...
18/05/2026

The NIPPS 2026 framework aims to change this. The implementation committees inaugurated earlier this year are tasked with establishing the valuation standards and financing frameworks that would allow registered IP assets to function as collateral within the formal banking system.

In practice, this means that businesses which have maintained well-documented, properly registered, and actively monitored IP portfolios may be positioned to access capital on terms that were previously unavailable.

The prerequisite is discipline: accurate ownership records, renewal compliance, usage documentation, and assignment recordals where corporate structures have changed.
Portfolio audits are typically the first step in preparing for any IP finance opportunity.

Explore our services: www.okayode.com/our-services

For international brand owners and their counsel, Nigeria sits at a crossroads that is difficult to navigate without boo...
15/05/2026

For international brand owners and their counsel, Nigeria sits at a crossroads that is difficult to navigate without boots on the ground.

As the most populous country in Africa and the continent's largest economy, Nigeria is simultaneously a primary market, a major transit point for goods moving across West Africa, and the commercial hub through which regional brand protection strategies must pass.

Contact us at [email protected]

For the first time in INTA's history, this year's Annual Meeting featured a dedicated two-day Patent Series.In Nigeria, ...
13/05/2026

For the first time in INTA's history, this year's Annual Meeting featured a dedicated two-day Patent Series.

In Nigeria, patent filing activity has historically lagged behind trademark registrations — in part because the commercial value of a patent portfolio has been less visible to local businesses. That is changing. The NIPPS 2026 framework explicitly identifies IP assets, including patents, as bankable collateral and instruments for capital mobilisation. Startups and technology companies seeking investment are now being asked questions about their patent positions that were rarely raised five years ago.

For businesses in Nigeria's manufacturing, pharmaceutical, and technology sectors, patent protection is increasingly a commercial asset — not merely a legal formality.

We support clients in building and managing patent portfolios that reflect the realities of doing business in Nigeria and across the African continent.

Contact us at [email protected]

Artificial intelligence is generating brand names, logos, slogans, and packaging at scale. The question of who owns thos...
11/05/2026

Artificial intelligence is generating brand names, logos, slogans, and packaging at scale. The question of who owns those outputs — and whether they can be registered — is now a live issue for trademark practitioners in every jurisdiction.

The more immediate challenge, however, is defensive. AI tools can generate marks that closely resemble existing registered rights. Brand owners who have not actively monitored their portfolios may find that visually similar AI-generated identifiers have entered the market before any dispute is identified.

For Nigerian businesses adopting AI tools in their branding, marketing, or product development processes, this is an appropriate moment to review how existing registrations interact with AI-assisted creation.

Explore our portfolio management services: www.okayode.com/our-services

The 2026 INTA Annual Meeting in London has concluded, leaving the global community with a clear directive: the era of th...
08/05/2026

The 2026 INTA Annual Meeting in London has concluded, leaving the global community with a clear directive: the era of the "Trademark-only" practitioner is over.

As Co-Chair Lara Kayode emphasized during the meeting, INTA’s evolution into a comprehensive Intellectual Property organisation is now complete. For firms and brand owners, this isn't just a change in nomenclature—it’s a strategic mandate. In a world of AI-native creation and complex intangible assets, we are no longer just protecting names; we are engineering business resilience.

Why this matters for Nigeria & the African market:
Nigeria’s innovation economy doesn’t operate in silos. As we saw in London, the most successful strategies today are multi-layered:

Integrated Protection: An anti-counterfeiting campaign in Lagos now demands a hybrid approach—combining trademarks, trade dress, and design rights.

The Creative Economy: A single transaction in our booming tech or entertainment sectors requires a sophisticated blend of copyright, licensing, and trade secret analysis.

AI & Data Governance: As discussed in London, IP is now judged by its "social legitimacy" and data provenance. For Nigerian startups, this means building IP portfolios that are both legally airtight and ethically sound.

The London meeting proved that the future of IP belongs to those who bridge the gap between "experience" and "innovation." At O. Kayode & Co., we are bringing these global insights back home to help our clients navigate this new, integrated landscape.

Missed us in London? Let’s discuss how the shift from trademarks to total IP strategy affects your portfolio.

Contact us: [email protected]

Intellectual Property practice in Africa is shaped by a distinctive combination of national laws, regional systems, and ...
29/04/2026

Intellectual Property practice in Africa is shaped by a distinctive combination of national laws, regional systems, and regulatory institutions.

Practitioners often work across multiple frameworks — including national registries, ARIPO, and OAPI.

At the same time, enforcement may involve collaboration with regulatory bodies, customs authorities, and administrative agencies.

This multi-layered environment requires a practical understanding of both law and regulatory practice.

For international companies entering African markets, navigating this landscape often benefits from local insight and regional coordination.

As the continent’s innovation economy continues to grow, the importance of strong intellectual property systems will only increase.

Counterfeit products remain a global challenge affecting industries ranging from pharmaceuticals to luxury goods.In Nige...
23/04/2026

Counterfeit products remain a global challenge affecting industries ranging from pharmaceuticals to luxury goods.

In Nigeria, enforcement efforts often involve cooperation between brand owners and regulatory agencies.

These enforcement actions highlight the importance of proactive monitoring, coordinated investigations, and regulatory engagement.

Counterfeit networks rarely operate within a single jurisdiction.

Addressing them effectively often requires collaboration between legal practitioners, regulators, and rights holders across borders.

For businesses operating internationally, understanding how enforcement works within local markets is an essential part of protecting brand value.

Nigeria’s technology ecosystem has grown rapidly over the past decade.Startups are building platforms that rely heavily ...
21/04/2026

Nigeria’s technology ecosystem has grown rapidly over the past decade.

Startups are building platforms that rely heavily on proprietary software, data systems, and digital infrastructure.

As these businesses scale, intellectual property increasingly becomes a strategic asset rather than an administrative afterthought.

Questions around ownership of code, licensing of technology, and protection of digital assets often arise as companies attract investment or expand into international markets.

The relationship between technology innovation and intellectual property protection will continue to shape Nigeria’s digital economy in the years ahead.

This year’s World Intellectual Property Day celebrates the theme “IP and Sports: Ready, Set, Innovate.”Behind every majo...
17/04/2026

This year’s World Intellectual Property Day celebrates the theme “IP and Sports: Ready, Set, Innovate.”

Behind every major sporting event lies an entire ecosystem of intellectual property.

Team logos and league trademarks define global sports brands.

Broadcasting rights allow fans to experience matches across continents.

Innovations in sports equipment, performance technology, and wearable analytics are protected through patents and design rights.

Even athlete endorsements rely heavily on trademark protection and licensing agreements.

Nigeria’s passion for sport — particularly football — continues to grow alongside the commercial opportunities surrounding it.

From sports broadcasting and merchandising to emerging sports technology ventures, intellectual property plays an important role in supporting the business of sport.

World Intellectual Property Day reminds us that innovation in sport is not limited to what happens on the field.

It also includes the creative, technological, and legal systems that help the global sports industry thrive.



Credits: Image courtesy of WIPO

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