By Joy Yesufu
DVIPC Academy has intensified efforts to deepen innovation and intellectual property awareness at the grassroots level through sports and creative education.
The organisation commemorated the 2026 World Intellectual Property Day in Abuja with a programme themed, “IP and Sport: Get Ready, Set, Innovate,” bringing together primary and secondary school sports teachers, Intellectual Property Club coordinators, and young athletes from across the Federal Capital Territory.
The event focused on the intersection of sports, creativity, and intellectual property rights, with experts highlighting the growing importance of innovation in sports development and talent management.
During the programme, sports development expert, Sube Levi Illya, of the Federations and Elite Athletes Department at the National Sports Commission, trained participants on modern coaching techniques and the mindset required for 21st-century sports development.
Also speaking, the founder of DVIPC Academy, Onyekachi Eriobu-Aniede, explained the role of intellectual property in sports, innovation, branding, and commercialisation.
Eriobu-Aniede, a lawyer and World Intellectual Property Organisation alumna, drew insights from her research titled, “Examination of the Challenges of Intellectual Property-Related Rights in Sports Development and Management in Nigeria.”
According to her, intellectual property rights remain critical in protecting innovations linked to sports, including athletic branding, equipment design, endorsements, media content, and creative expressions.
The DVIPC Academy founder noted that the initiative seeks to make intellectual property education accessible to children and young people at an early stage, enabling them to transform their creativity into protected and commercially viable assets.
Programme Coordinator of the academy, Christian Sule, urged schools to embrace the organisation’s “IP Explorer Club” initiative aimed at nurturing creativity and innovation among students.
He said the clubs would serve as innovation hubs within schools, helping students to understand ownership rights, talent development, and the value of protecting original ideas.
A major highlight of the programme was the promotion of “IP Adventure,” a storytelling-based educational initiative designed to simplify intellectual property concepts for children and teenagers.
The initiative teaches students the importance of respecting intellectual property, protecting creative works, and leveraging innovation for future opportunities.
DVIPC Academy said it is currently working toward establishing IP Explorer Clubs in primary and secondary schools across Nigeria, with support structures including mentorship frameworks, activity guides, and structured learning materials.
The organisation also stressed the importance of training teachers as talent discoverers and innovation advocates capable of guiding students in both sports and creative development.
According to the academy, partnerships with schools will help strengthen innovation culture, entrepreneurship, and critical thinking among young Nigerians while aligning the education system with global best practices.
The organisation called on schools interested in integrating intellectual property education into their programmes to partner with the academy through its outreach platforms.
