(I) WIPO NATIONAL INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ESSAY COMPETITION
On the 26th April, 2020, the WIPO Nigeria Office launched a national intellectual property essay competition open to registered students of all tertiary institutions in Nigeria. This competition invites submissions on the topic “Making Innovation Work for a Green Future in Nigeria”. Competition details were released on 26 April, 2020.
What will the judges look for? 1. Originality. 2. Clarity of expression, flow, and thought. 3. Relevance and practicality of essay within the local Nigerian context. 4. Relevance of essay to the field of intellectual property. 5. Contribution of essay to relevant national, regional, or international developments in the area selected by the author
What is up for grabs? 1. Author of the winning essay will be awarded a scholarship by the WIPO Academy to attend the WIPO Summer School in South Africa. 2. Authors of the top three essays will receive special WIPO gift packages, including official WIPO certificates of achievement. 3. Authors of the top 10 essays will be invited to participate in an intellectual property study tour of key intellectual property institutions in Nigeria, facilitated by the WIPO Nigeria Office. 5. Authors of the top 10 essays will receive scholarships for WIPO Academy Distance Learning and/or Blended IP Training in international/subregional programs. 6. Top entries will be submitted to the editors of the WIPO Magazine for possible publication.
Several other exciting intellectual property learning and professional prizes will be won!
Entries should be no longer than 1,500 words and should be submitted to nigeria.office@wipo.int on or before midnight, 26 May, 2020 with the subject title: Initial.Surname_WIPD Essay Competition (e.g., T.Olayemi_WIPD Essay Competition).
Winners will be announced in June
(II) WIPO NIGERIA OFFICE PANEL ON THE WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DAY
On the 27th April, 2020, from 3pm – 5pm (WAT), the WIPO Nigeria Office held a webinar, in collaboration with the International Trademark Association (INTA), with the title “An Executive Look at the Role of Trademark Law in Advancing a Green Future in Nigeria”. As a prime investment destination, Nigeria continues to strive to create an enabling business environment for foreign investments, while yet spurring local innovation. Effective trademark laws are essential to building a vibrant economy, shifting from a commodity driven economy to an innovative one and increasing jobs creation for the youth. Conscious of the need for sustainable development through environmentally sustainable innovation, this webinar explored the potential role and opportunities for trademark law in advancing this objective in Nigeria. The panel was followed by an interactive Q&A segment with the live audience. Attendance was free, however pre-registration was required. The webinar registration link is here.
Panel Speakers:
Mr. Yauri Adamu, Registrar, Nigeria Trademark Registry
Mr. Davidson Oturu, Chair INTA Law and Regulation Africa Subcommittee & Partner, AELEX (Nigeria).
Ms. Uche Nwokocha, Member of Board, INTA, and Partner, Aluko & Oyebode
Professor Adejoke Oyewunmi, Professor of Intellectual Property Law, University of Lagos, Nigeria.
Ms. Busola Bakinson, Senior Associate, Jackson Etti & Edu (moderator).
(III) WIPO NIGERIA OFFICE PANEL ON THE ENTRY INTO FORCE OF THE BEIJING TREATY
On the 28th April, 2020, from 3pm – 5pm (WAT), the WIPO Nigeria Office will hold a webinar in collaboration with the Nigerian Copyright Commission, with the title “Strengthening Nigeria’s Creative Sector through Improved Rights for Artists and Performers”. This webinar is linked to the entry into force of the Beijing Treaty in Nigeria on that day.
The Beijing Treaty deals with the intellectual property rights of performers in audiovisual performances, notably by bolstering five kinds of exclusive economic rights for the beneficiaries’ performances fixed in an audiovisual format: the rights of reproduction, distribution, rental, making available and broadcasting and communication to the public. As home to Africa’s largest movie industry (Nollywood), the third largest movie industry globally, as well as one of the most dynamic global entertainment industries, this Treaty bears significant implications for actors and creative performers in Nigeria.
The panel will discuss this treaty and its implications for Nigerian Artists and performers. The panel will be followed by an interactive Q&A segment with the audience. Attendance is free, however pre-registration is required. The webinar registration link is here.
Panel Speakers:
Ms. Carole Croella, Senior Counsellor, Copyright Law Division
Mr. Mike Akpan, Director, Nigeria Copyright Commission
Ms. Kate Henshaw, Nigerian Actress
Mr. Mahmood Ali-Balogun, Chairman, Audio Visual Rights Society of Nigeria
Ms. Omoni Oboli, Nigerian Actress, scriptwriter and Producer
Mr. Justin Ige, Managing Partner, Creative Legal
Dr. Chijioke Okorie, Lead Consultant, Penguide Advisory (moderator)
