The Niger Delta Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture, NDCCITMA, has rejected allegations of trademark infringement over the Niger Delta Economic and Investment Summit.
The chamber says it obtained a trademark acceptance letter for the summit’s name in August 2025, before event promoter Kenule Nwiya Junior and his company, Ken-Eva Consult Limited, filed their application.
NDCCITMA said its application, filed under number NG/TM/O/2025/387284, predates Nwiya’s application, which it said was still pending in September 2025.
The chamber also dismissed claims that Nwiya exclusively owns the summit concept, arguing that the term “economic summit” is generic and widely used for platforms focused on investment, economic development and policy discussions.
The dispute between the parties is currently before the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, where further hearing in the case is scheduled for September 22.
NDCCITMA said an earlier interim injunction issued by Justice Stephen Dalyop Pam restrained Nwiya and Ken-Eva Consult Limited from interfering with its planned summit.
The chamber has therefore insisted that there is no court order stopping its event, scheduled for September 15 to 17 at the Obi Wali International Conference Centre in Port Harcourt.
However, the legal battle took a fresh turn on Friday when the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the parties to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the matter.
The order followed an application by Nwiya seeking to halt preparations for the summit over the disputed name.
NDCCITMA also alleged that Nwiya demanded N500 million to withdraw his claim, saying it rejected the demand.
The chamber said it would allow the courts and relevant authorities to resolve the dispute while proceeding with its mandate of promoting investment and economic development in the Niger Delta.
The 2026 summit is themed, “Driving Investment, Innovation & Industrial Growth in the Niger Delta.”
