Stakeholders in Nigeria's digital, creative, and financial sectors have begun discussions on a legal and regulatory framework that would allow businesses to use intellectual property assets as collateral to access financing. The discussions took place at a recent workshop organized by the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) in collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
The proposed framework aims to address the challenge of limited access to capital for creators and innovators, who often lack traditional collateral like land or equipment. Under the plan, assets such as copyrights, trademarks, and patents could be valued and used to secure loans from banks and other financial institutions.
According to the NCC, the initiative is part of broader efforts to unlock the economic potential of Nigeria's creative industry, which contributes significantly to the country's GDP. The commission noted that similar models have been successfully implemented in other jurisdictions, including the United States and the United Kingdom.
Participants at the workshop emphasized the need for clear valuation methods, registration systems, and dispute resolution mechanisms to make the framework viable. The NCC plans to develop a draft policy document for stakeholder review by the end of 2026.
