- August 10, 2022
- Posted by: admin
- Category: Events
Webinar Summary Report
Commemoration of the World IP day 2022
First session: ‘IP: Innovation and African Youths’
Thursday 26 April 2022, 12:00pm (WAT)
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.
