- April 20, 2022
- Posted by: Admin
- Category: News
The event which was held virtually via Zoom, was organized by Africa International Trade and Commerce Research in partnership with Tech Hive Advisory, Intellectual Property Society of Nigeria and International Trade Research Center. The webinar aims to give more information on what Intellectual Property is and the focus this year is to recognize the enormous potential of innovation and Africa’s young people to find new and better solutions that support Africa’s transition to a sustainable future. The event which is organized to commemorate the World IP Day was widely engaged by representatives of international development organizations, academia, business unions and individuals all across Nigeria, Africa and beyond. A total of 113 people registered for the event. A recording of the event can still be accessed on the AITCR Official YouTube page.
Opening remarks
The event started off with the welcome address by AITCR’s Information Unit Lead, Okwuchi Praise and an Opening Remarks by the Executive Director AITCR, Mr. Sand Mba-Kalu, where he expressed his gratitude to participants and speaker. He started by noting that Africa has untapped resources but the African Youths are rising towards changing the narrative in Africa. He mentioned some innovative Organisations in Africa dominated by youths but unfortunately, the rate of IP registration is still low in Africa following the decline in 2020.
Presentation 1
Creating more opportunities for youths through competitive advocacy policies- Appiah Kusi
Appiah Kusi Country Coordinator of CUTS International in his presentation, gave an overview on the advancement of the world as regards Intellectual property, unfortunately African Countries are not investing enough in the IP System.
He also encouraged Africans to leverage on collaboration for growth in order to diversify. He emphasized that innovation, especially the pharmaceutical sector, spend lots of resources and safe guarding their Intellectual Property right is very important.
Presentation 2
Protecting IP rights for the entertainment industry-Obi Asika
Obi Asika, Chairman Dragon Africa in his presentation encouraged that as Africans, we should value our IP from arts, music, culture, sculpture and others. We should bring our indigenous values to the world through storytelling and ensure to leverage on technology. Work smart: story tellers should work with business developers, lawyers, accountant to flame what they have and bring it to the world. Creators should be enabled and given the platform to express themselves. According to Obi Asika, The IP generated in Africa is worth trillions and it would continue to generate daily but we need to translate and monetize our true stories.
Presentation 3
Redefining innovation to include SMEs and the informal sector-Dr Uche Ugwu
Dr Ugwu Uchenna, intellectual property and development lawyer discussed on redefining innovation to include small and medium scale enterprises in the informal sector. In her presentation, she defined innovation as the application of new ideas to the products, processes or other aspects of activity that lead to increased value. She also noted that innovation takes place in two forms; product information and process innovation. Dr Uche emphasized the need for one’s innovation to be recognized and protected, noting that Africa needs to define innovation to include informal inventions, improvements, collected knowledge, all traditional knowledge which is not formally protected under the IP systems.
Presentation 4
Improving framework conditions to ease the registration of patents in Nigeria-Davidson Oturu
Davidson Oturu, legal practitioner with Aelex who was represented by Miss Ojo, an IP lawyer discussed on increasing framework conditions to ease registration of patents in Nigeria. In her presentation, she stated that a patent is an exclusive right granted for an invention which has to be a novel invention or a process that must pass the public policy. Educating the masses; Children, Youths, Adults on IP registration process is a major path towards advancing and protecting intellectual property rights.
Discussion
Following the conclusion of the first session, the question-and-answer session was moderated by Brenda. A participant asked What are the reasons for low patents applications in Nigeria? Ojo responded on the lack of enforcement and IP right education in Nigeria, Dr Uche added that people should see what they do as an innovation and look at the international level to access those who are ready to tap into your IP.
How can a young African especially in the entertainment industry collaborate and have their products protected and recognized?
Obi Asika responded that it is important to build community where you find shared resource. He added that for IP protection, one should talk to a legal practitioner.
Hamilton asked if the Intellectual Property can be integrated in the curriculums of Africa’s education systems? Dr Uche noted that children in Canada are tech savvy but technical skills are important to expose the African Children, but do we have what it takes in Africa?
A question by one of the participants: how can the public sector help to accelerate the invention IP process in Africa? Obi Asika reacted with an example of the on-going Nigeria startup bill which aims to have the private sector ecosystem come together as a strong unit, working with the presidency, to sort of drive through the process. Obi Asika also added that domestic platforms and companies should be protected to enable them grow.
Concluding remarks
The concluding remarks was delivered by Brenda Ugwu who appreciated the participants for attending the first session of the world IP day webinar and advised that they participate in the next session.
After which general pictures were taken.
Second session: ‘The Future of Africa and the role of IP’
Thursday 26 April 2022, 2:10pm (WAT)
Opening remarks
The second session to commemorate the World IP day started with a welcome address from Rita Chindah, an IP lawyer who gave an explicit summary of the first session and welcomed the speakers and participants
Presentation 1
Protection of Intellectual Property traditional knowledge in Africa context- Dr Ifeoluwa Olubiyi
Dr Ifeoluwa Olubiyi, IP expert and lecturer, college of Law, Afe Babalola AdoEkiti Nigeria, in her presentation defined traditional knowledge according to WIPO as a living knowledge passed on from generation to generation within a community. She noted that traditional knowledge forms part of people’s identity and cuts across different sectors. Dr Ifeoluwa mentioned the characteristics of traditional knowledge, although the IP provides complimentary protection. She mentioned reasons for Other IP rights that can be used include; trademarks, geographical indications, copyrights, trade secrets and contractual agreement. She addressed the means of IP protection in Africa, using South Africa as a case study, along side the challenges and the way forward.
Presentation 2
Intellectual Property as a tool for development in Africa: The role of OAPI to guarantee this view in Africa future- Mrs Nnoko Magui
Mrs Nnoko Magui, DG Advisor, Project Coordinator OAPI in her presentation gave an overview of OAPI which was created in 1962 having 17-member state under it. OAPI sensitizes and encourage member states to register their Intellectual Property rights. She also mentioned the 2018-2022 strategic plan which include; revive and increase production, upgrade infrastructure, strengthen human resources, promote the strategics use of IP, and others. The OAPI in its promoting awareness, dedicates 15-20% of its budget each year for capacity building on IP carried out in member states by its local representatives. Also in 2007, a support fund of around 1700 000USD was put in place for invention and innovation for the member states and simplification of registration procedures for consumers after examination of titles.
Intellectual IP helps to support growth, trade and employment in Africa by accessing opportunities in Africa. Intellectual Property Legal Framework establishes secure arrangements for investing innovation and creativity. The IP system makes it possible to acquire the information necessary to transform an idea into a commercially viable product, it also makes it possible to commercialize differentiated products to conquer a market.
Mrs Nnoko Magui noted that there are 500 patents per year, of which 80% comes from abroad ranging from fear of adequate awareness amongst member states.
She concluded by saying the future of Africa depends on the place it will build in the international architecture and the world economy, based on it rise to power in immaterial economy and ICT.
Presentation 3
The role of IP in the digitalization of Trade as Africa kick-off under AfCFTA –Mr. Charles Batambuze
Charles Batambuze, Executive Director of Uganda Reproduction Rights Organization started by explaining the raise of digital products and the legal frameworks in place to protect them. There are vast opportunities for entrepreneurs through the digital spaces. Africa needs to be innovative in their national legislation law to protect local producers and access the new revenue schemes.
Kenya’s new legislation encourages the improvement of fair sharing of revenues and Mr. Charles believes this should also be adopted by other countries to avoid exploitation and infringement for creatives.
Mr. Charles concluded by saying that the government needs to reduce the cost of data, gadgets and its quality to allow people upload contents for their works and commercialize IP in Africa. Some organizations in Africa do not perform up to the expectation of the citizens, therefore, Africans cannot benefit as they should.
Presentation 4
The activities of AfrIPI to sustain Intellectual Property in Africa– Palouki Gazaroa
Palouki Gazaroa, IP Enforcement expert AfrIPI in her presentation started by AfrIPI is an international cooperation project funded and directed by the European Union, co-founded and implemented by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). It has 4 components which include; Promotion of Intellectual Property, capacity building of national and regional intellectual property institutions, Raising awareness of IP among SMEs in Africa, Supporting the implementation of the EU strategy for Geographical Indication.
The largest portion of SMES are not familiar with IP systems, universities and research institutes prefer to publish in scientific journals instead of developing close cooperation for the strategic use of IP. This led to a project with the OAPI to establish of a collaborative platform in the member state together.
The management team of the AfrIPI is working hard to see that project to bring together to create synergy for the effectiveness in universities and valorization by companies of invention. The projects phases include; Recruitment of Analyst, Technical and Legal documents to formalize platform for dialogues between innovators and SMES, organization of seminars between universities and research institute. The objectives of this project is to enable each country to propose a platform of innovation.
Discussions
Following the conclusion of the first session, the question-and-answer session was moderated by Rita.
Rita asked Dr Ifeoluwa if she would advise other African countries measures to protect traditional knowledge, especially with foreigners coming in to learn about the culture of African country.
Dr Ifeoluwa responded that India had a compilation of their Intellectual Property products and made the data base available at the government level and advised that this should be adopted by other African countries.
Brendan asked how AfCFTA protocol on Intellectual Property protocol address the concern of Africans?
Responses were given by the speakers.
Concluding remarks
The concluding remarks was delivered by Rita Chindah who appreciated the participants for attending the second session of the world IP day webinar and appreciated the speakers and organisers for the success of the world IP day webinar.
After which general pictures were taken.
