Leading legal scholars and intellectual property experts have called for a fundamental reform of Nigeria’s intellectual property (IP) laws to better reflect African realities and protect traditional knowledge systems.
The call was made at the 3rd International Law Conference hosted by Babcock University, Ilisan-Remo, where legal professionals gathered to examine the intersection of technology, indigenous innovation, and sustainable development.
In a press briefing on the sidelines of the event, Professor Bankole Sodipo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and lecturer in Intellectual Property and Commercial Law, criticised the current IP framework for being too Western-centric and failing to account for Africa’s communal culture and oral traditions.
“From medicinal herbs to folklore, our traditional knowledge is at risk of exploitation because our laws require individual authorship and documentation,” he said. “How can the Chinese be selling Ofada rice? That’s ours. Our patent laws must be reviewed to stop biopiracy and empower our communities.”
Sodipo also raised urgent concerns about the impact of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) on legal protections.
He questioned how existing laws, which only recognise human inventors, would accommodate innovations created by machines.
Delivering a keynote address from South Africa, Professor Samai Andrews echoed these concerns and called for the development of a unique African jurisprudence that demands international respect for indigenous intellectual property.
“Africa has enormous potential, Nollywood proves that our culture can be a global asset,” he said. “If we create the right frameworks, we can build wealth beyond oil.”
The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics) of Babcock University, Professor Philemon Amanze, while declaring the conference open, acknowledged the transformative power of AI, but urged caution.
He condemned statements that deify AI, describing them as blasphemous. “AI is a tool, not a god,” he warned.
The Dean of the School of Law and Security Studies, Professor Dorcas Odunaike, said that the theme of the conference was apt, as Nigeria’s legal structures must now adapt to a world where technology drives development across health, agriculture, education, and governance.
Professor Ayoyemi Lawal-Arowolo, chairman of the conference organising committee, concluded by emphasising that while AI offers enormous benefits, it must be carefully regulated to prevent misuse and ensure it aligns with justice and sustainability.
