How to file a trademark in Nigeria

The easiest way to file a Nigerian trademark is through the GlobalIPCo online filing system – a filing platform that specialises in securing IP protection in Africa.

If you are a law firm, the cost to obtain a Nigerian trademark is:

• Filing: $124
• Registration: $70

Step 1: Choose a Word mark or a Logo

Either choose a Word mark such as “NIKE” or a logo such as the Nike Swoosh.

If you choose a logo, the GlobalIPCo system assists you to resize your logo image to the size required by the Nigerian Trademarks Office.

Step 2: Select the applicant

Enter the applicant’s (i.e. owner’s) name and physical address:

Step 3: Priority

If you have filed an earlier trademark in another country within the past 6 months, you may claim priority from that earlier trademark by adding the trademark number, filing date and country.

Most trademarks do not claim priority.

Step 4: Select a class

Select a suitable class for your trademark, covering the goods or services you wish to associate your trademark with.

You can select as many classes as you wish. However, a separate Nigeria trademark will be filed for each class selected.

Step 5: Sign the Power of Attorney

Download a pre-populated Power of Attorney, sign and scan it. The Power of Attorney empowers GlobalIPCo’s Nigerian agent (Crown & Shields) to file your trademark application with the Nigerian Trademarks Office.

Step 6: Upload document(s)

Upload the signed Power of Attorney. If you are claiming priority from an earlier trademark application, also upload a copy of the priority document.

Step 7: Pay

If you are a law firm, the cost to file a Nigerian trademark is only $124. This includes the official fee, professional fee and disbursements.

Either pay by credit card or pay on account. If you choose to pay on account, you will receive a monthly invoice covering all instructions submitted on the GlobalIPCo system during the previous month.

What happens after filing the Nigerian trademark?

You should receive the Nigerian trademark application number and filing receipt within a day of filing.

Unless your trademark application is objected to by the Nigerian trademarks examiner, your application should be accepted within 3 months of filing. Within the following year, the application should be published in the Nigerian Trademarks Journal and lie open for opposition for 2 months. Should registration of your trademark not be opposed, the GlobalIPCo system will prompt you to pay the registration fee ($70) for the Nigerian trademark certificate to be issued. Nigerian trademark certificates are typically issued within 2 years of filing.

A colour scanned copy of the Nigerian trademark certificate will be emailed to you. Should you wish, you may request the original paper certificate to be couriered to you for $110.

What if the Nigerian Trademarks Office objects to my trademark?

If the Nigerian Trademarks Office issues an office action objecting to your trademark, our agent will respond thereto. The cost for a routine response to an office action is only $70. However, relatively few office actions are issued in respect of Nigerian trademarks.

About the GlobalIPCo system

The GlobalIPCo system is a patent and trademark filing platform that focusses on Africa. It integrates as much as possible with the systems of Patent and Trademark Offices to provide low-cost, efficient trademark and patent filings.

The GlobalIPCo system has significantly reduced the cost of patents and trademarks in Africa and is the largest filer of South African patents. The system files about 5,000 patent and trademark applications per year.

Tip – Extend your Nigerian trademark into a SANi trademark

Combine the Nigerian trademark with a South African trademark to form a SANi combination trademark. A SANi combination trademark covers 44% of sub-Sahara African GDP and a population of 284 million. The SANi trademark is the best trademark option “for Africa”.

SANi patents and trademarks cover more GDP than ARIPO and OAPI patents and trademarks combined.

Alternative to using the online system

Should you prefer to file a SANi combination trademark (covering Nigeria and South Africa) by sending an email to a patent law firm, you can instruct S&Z Patent Attorneys to file a SANi trademark for $435 (covering filing, publication and registration costs).