Evaluation of Intellectual Property Rights Awareness Among Technology Entrepreneurs in Abuja, FCT

Intellectual property rights protection is foundational to technology entrepreneurship, and evaluating awareness levels among tech entrepreneurs in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, provides evidence for capacity building priorities in Nigeria's growing technology startup ecosystem. This study evaluated intellectual property rights awareness and utilisation among 150 technology entrepreneurs at Abuja-based tech hubs and co-working spaces including CCHub Abuja, NITDA Innovation Hub, and iDEA Nigeria. IP dimensions assessed included awareness of patents, trademarks, copyright, trade secrets, and industrial designs. IP utilisation behaviour and perceived barriers to IP protection were measured. Descriptive statistics, frequency analysis, and logistic regression were employed. Results showed that copyright awareness was highest (84%), followed by trademark awareness (68%). Patent and industrial design awareness was significantly lower (37% and 29% respectively). Only 22% of sampled entrepreneurs had formally registered any form of IP for their products or services. Low IP utilisation was attributed to perceived high cost (73%), bureaucratic complexity (68%), and lack of professional guidance (61%). Entrepreneurs with university degrees in law or business showed significantly higher IP utilisation rates (OR = 4.1, p < 0.001). IP awareness was strongly positively correlated with prior participation in business development training (r = 0.62, p < 0.001). The study concludes that IP rights awareness is inadequate among Abuja tech entrepreneurs and recommends embedding IP rights education in all Abuja tech hub startup acceleration programmes, supported by pro bono IP legal clinics. Keywords: intellectual property rights, technology entrepreneurship, Abuja, startup ecosystem, patent awareness