Geographical Indications: The New Global Currency

…As Ghana Leaps Ahead of Nigeria in the GI Race

By Somadina Eugene-Okorie

I left the 2025 All-Africa Intellectual Property Summit in Dakar with one overwhelming conviction: while the world accelerates into the era of Geographical Indications (GI), Nigeria—the continent’s largest market—is moving dangerously slowly, leaving billions of dollars unclaimed.

At the summit, where I not only participated but also chaired a breakout session, two themes dominated discussions: the transformative power of Geographical Indications and the urgent need to rethink copyright in the age of AI. These topics, which I explored in earlier writings, are no longer abstract ideas. They now sit at the heart of global economic planning. Nations are building wealth, strengthening local industries and preserving heritage by deploying structured GI frameworks.

Around the world, GI has become a strategic economic tool, attaching value to origin, tradition, craftsmanship and community knowledge. A GI-certified product earns a premium not because of marketing, but because consumers trust its authenticity. Champagne is not just wine; Parmigiano Reggiano is not just cheese; “Swiss Made” is not merely a label.
They are global economic engines precisely because the law protects their identity, origin and reputation.

Ghana Moves, and the World Applauds

Perhaps the most striking African example—and the one that placed Ghana decisively ahead—came in September 2025 when the country granted Kente cloth official Geographical Indication status. It was a bold, globally recognised move. For the first time, only fabrics woven in specific Ghanaian communities such as Bonwire, Adanwomase, Kpetoe and Agbozume can legally be called Kente. Cheap, factory-printed imitators can no longer use the name.

This is nothing short of an economic revolution disguised as cultural preservation.

By protecting Kente, Ghana has elevated it into the same league as Champagne and Parmesan—prestigious, legally protected products tied to specific heritage. The result? Higher export value, empowered weavers, strengthened supply chains, more direct links to global fashion houses and a preserved legacy for future generations.

Meanwhile, Nigeria—Africa’s giant, rich with unique indigenous products—still has not registered a single GI. This, in my view, is an economic disaster.

Nigeria Is Leaving Money on the Table

Nigeria possesses all the ingredients for a thriving GI ecosystem:
Benue yam, Nsukka yellow pepper, Bida brass works, Kano leather, Aba shoes, Adire Abeokuta, Afikpo masks, Ofada rice, and even Forcados crude. These products have distinct identity and reputation. What they lack is legal protection—the bedrock upon which multi-billion-dollar GI industries are built.

Switzerland earns billions annually from watches largely because “Swiss Made” is legally protected. Only products meeting strict standards can bear the label. That is how trust is built. That is how economies grow.

Imagine a Nigeria where “Made in Nigeria” is not merely a patriotic slogan but a legally backed Geographical Indication—reserved for certified products known for real origin and quality. This would reassure global buyers, strengthen domestic producers and give Nigerian exporters stronger negotiating power.

This is not branding. It is national economic strategy.

Adire: A Warning Nigeria Must Not Ignore

The consequences of inaction are already visible. Adire, the iconic tie-and-dye cloth of Ogun State, is under threat. During a recent field survey in Abeokuta, local producers expressed frustration and despair. Chinese manufacturers, armed with advanced machinery, are flooding Nigerian markets with cheap imitations labelled “Adire.” These counterfeits are wiping out authentic, handmade fabrics and crippling indigenous creators.

“We are losing our market and our heritage,” one producer told me. “They have taken over the business because we lack protection.”

This is not just an economic loss. It is cultural erosion—something no country with proper GI laws would allow.

Nigeria Must Wake Up Now

If Nigeria is serious about strengthening the naira, boosting exports, empowering rural producers, and building sustainable industries, then several urgent steps are needed:

1. Enact a dedicated Geographical Indications Act aligned with WIPO and TRIPS standards.

2. Build a strong certification and regulatory framework ensuring only high-quality, authentic products earn GI status.

3. Integrate GI into national economic planning, tying it to agriculture, trade, tourism and manufacturing.

4. Train producers and local communities to enforce and defend their GI rights.

Ghana Has Shown What Is Possible

Ghana’s GI victory builds on its earlier success in securing UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage status for Kente in 2024. It was strategic, deliberate and visionary. As the AfCFTA strengthens plans to harmonise IP regimes across Africa, GI will become central to export competitiveness. Nations that delay will lose markets, value and identity.

Africa is moving. The world is moving.
Nigeria must not be the last to act.

Conclusion: The Path Forward

If Nigeria embraces Geographical Indications today, it will protect cultural heritage, unlock billions in value, empower grassroots producers, strengthen the currency and elevate “Made in Nigeria” into a globally respected mark of quality.

The message from Dakar was clear:
Africa is preparing to lead in the next phase of global intellectual property development. GI is no longer optional—it is essential.

The train is moving, and the world is watching.
Nigeria must wake up and take its rightful place.

About the Author
Somadina Eugene-Okorie, Esq., is an advocate, intellectual property and business solicitor, and researcher based in Lagos. His work explores how legal innovation can drive inclusive economic growth and cultural preservation in Africa.