Nigeria is on the verge of securing full membership in the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV), the Acting Director General of the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC), Dr. Ishiaku Khalid, has said.
Speaking in Abuja at the 2025 Boot Camp on Plant Variety Protection (PVP) for Agricultural Development, Khalid reaffirmed the country’s commitment to completing the membership process.
“We have made steady progress in protecting new plant varieties, ensuring sustainability and competitiveness in Nigeria’s agricultural sector through investment in plant breeding and innovation,” he stated.
He emphasised that efforts are ongoing to finalise the necessary processes for Nigeria’s full accession to UPOV, adding that the remaining declarations are being signed and deposited.
Also speaking, the Acting Registrar of the Plant Variety Protection Office for Nigeria, Sunday Folarin, said UPOV membership would enhance Nigeria’s ability to safeguard plant varieties and attract investments in agricultural innovation.
“Once Nigeria deposits its instrument of accession, it will become a full UPOV member, allowing local and international breeders to protect their plant varieties under an internationally recognised system,” he explained.
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According to Folarin, UPOV membership will encourage foreign investment and ensure Nigerian breeders benefit from intellectual property protections.
He stressed that it would also prevent neighboring countries from using Nigerian genetic materials without authorization.
“Despite progress, Nigeria has yet to complete the final step of depositing its accession instrument with UPOV. The document has been signed by the President and submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for formalisation.
“The Minister of Foreign Affairs is committed to agriculture and has assured us that this will happen in the shortest possible time,” Folarin added.
“Once Nigeria officially joins UPOV, it is expected to boost plant breeding investments, enhance agricultural productivity, and create new opportunities for local and international stakeholders”, he added.
On the boot camp, Folarin noted that it aims to educate young Nigerians, especially women, graduates, lawyers, and agricultural researchers, on the importance of Plant Breeders’ Rights Protection.
The initiative, he said, seeks to address Nigeria’s intellectual property gaps in agriculture by equipping participants with skills to become innovators and entrepreneurs in plant breeding.
AGRA’s Country Director, Rufus Idris, who was represented by Esther Ibrahim, highlighted the need for youth involvement in Africa’s food system transformation, citing the aging agricultural population as a challenge.
He stressed that plant breeders must have their intellectual property protected to encourage the development of improved crop varieties, adding that delays in implementing PVP regulations since 2019 have been met with resistance.
“A breeder may spend up to 25 years developing a new crop variety. If their work is not protected, others can exploit it without giving due credit, which discourages innovation,” he stated.