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Help! IP Thieves Killing Nigeria

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Intellectual piracy, that is stealing of the ideas of others and claiming them as your own is the commonest crime in Nigeria today and one that is threatening all the fabrics of the country’s life, Nigeria Communications Week can now reveal.
The most common types of piracy and counterfeiting internationally include: medications, apparel, footwear and handbags, movies and music, auto parts, electronics, health products (toothpaste, lotion, vitamins) and food, alcohol and beverages.
Piracy or counterfeiting is a too benevolent term that doesn’t even begin to adequately describe the toll that the theft takes on the many artists, musicians, record label employees, industrialists, manufacturers and the country in general.
Though reliable statistics are hard to come by, losses as a result of counterfeiting and piracy are staggering and thought to have exceeded genuine earnings.
According to a research by the Business Software Alliance (BSA) and the International Data Corporation (IDC), Nigeria lost more than N19.8 billion ($132 million) to software piracy alone in 2008.
Nodding in agreement, Karen Burress, a US department of commerce representative who recently visited the country, pointed out that counterfeit goods – including music, movies, electronic goods, food stuffs, automotive parts and pharmaceuticals, among many other things account for 7 per cent of all global trade. This equated to almost $350 billion in lost revenues and millions of jobs gone wanting worldwide.
“We estimate that Nigeria is the largest market in Africa for goods that infringe IP rights. Around 80% of the international music CDs available here are pirated; even the local music industry sees 40% of its products being copied, counterfeited or sold illegally,” she said.
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek gathered that the pirated CD of any artiste sells for as low as N100 while the original sells for as high as N2, 000.
The shameless debasement of the industry is not limited to music, counterfeit computer hardware and accessories also abound in the country.
Investigations revealed that the city of Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is the major gateway for fake and sub-standard phones, computers, and other ICT accessories into the country.
Dubai, a top re-exporting destination, is said to acts as a catalyst for the huge volumes of exports from India, Vietnam, Singapore and China to Nigeria.
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek gathered that most of the fake and sub-standard ICT products are manufactured in China, Singapore, Vietnam and India, but sold in Dubai, which is a major market for most importers from Nigeria.
It also is surprising how the products get into the country amidst the measures said to be put in place by the government.
Investigations showed that the major market for all these fake products is the Computer Village in Lagos, the largest computer and mobile phones and accessories market in West Africa.
The duplication of duties of Nigeria Copyright Commission (NCC), Standard Organization of Nigeria (Son) and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (Nafdac) only seem to have bolstered the booming trade.
The involvement of organized crime and terrorist groups worldwide in counterfeiting products to finance their activities has not helped matters.
Magnitude and effects of counterfeiting and piracy necessitate strong action which is in short supply in the country.
Describing the current spate of law enforcement activities as inadequate Business Action to Stop Counterfeiting and Piracy (Bascap) pointed the way forward.
The group said there was urgent need for Nigeria to adopt new Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) enforcement guidelines for the protection of rights owners in their territories.
It has also launched a set of intellectual property (IP) guidelines designed to help businesses around the globe protect their copyright and branded materials, and deter trade in counterfeit and pirated goods.

 

 


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Nigeria CommunicationsWeek believes that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. So since 2007, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and how they affect lives.

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Glo Urges Workers to Reflect on Furthering National Growth on May Day

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Telecommunications services provider, Globacom, has admonished Nigerian workers to reflect on more ways of contributing further to the growth of the country.

In a solidarity message on the occasion of the 2024 International Workers’ Day, the company noted that Nigerian workers were resilient in spite of the challenges they encounter in the course of discharging their duties.

The telecommunications giant further noted that the story of Nigeria cannot be adequately chronicled without acknowledging the immense contributions of workers, both in the public and private sectors.

The day is observed on May 1 yearly in recognition of the contributions of workers all over the world and to advance fairer and more sustainable future by advocating for workers’ rights.

“We salute Nigerian workers on this day and commend them for the hard work, commitment, resourcefulness and industry which are essential for the growth of the economy of any nation,” Globacom said.

 


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CWG Board of Directors Approves 400% Increase in Dividend Payout

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CWG Plc has announced a significant milestone in its commitment to delivering value to shareholders. Following a thorough review of the company’s financial performance and outlook, the Board of Directors has approved a substantial increase of 400per cent in dividend payout to shareholders.

This decision reflects CWG’s confidence in its financial stability, growth trajectory, and ability to generate sustainable returns. By enhancing the dividend payout, CWG aims to reward shareholders for their continued trust and support while reaffirming its commitment to creating long-term value.

Mr. Philip Obioha, Chairman of the Board of Directors at CWG Plc, said, “The decision to approve a 400% increase in dividend payout underscores our confidence in CWG’s performance and outlook. We are dedicated to delivering value to our shareholders and believe that this significant dividend increase is a testament to our commitment to shareholder value creation.”

This increase in dividend payout aligns with CWG’s strategic objectives to prioritize shareholder interests and maintain strong financial discipline. The Board remains committed to prudent financial management and sustainable growth, ensuring that CWG continues to be a reliable investment for shareholders.

As CWG continues to execute its growth strategy and expand its presence in the market, the Board anticipates that the increased dividend payout will further strengthen investor confidence and support CWG’s vision for the future.


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Prof. Aliyu, AI Practitioner to Keynote ABoICT 2024

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CommunicationsWeek Media Limited, a certified global ICT company with over two million online subscribers, is delighted and proud to announce Prof. Yakub Aliyu, as the keynote speaker at Africa’s Beacon of ICT Merit and Leadership Distinguished Lecture series 2024.

 

Aliyu, will be speaking on the theme: Artificial Intelligence (AI): The Good, The Complex and The Anticipated”, this leans heavily on the fact that AI changing our lives– we just need to know where to look today.

This year’s rebranded Africa’s Beacon of ICT Merit and Leadership Distinguished Lecture/Awards Series is slated for Saturday, May 25, 2024 at the Four Points by Sheraton, Lagos.

The event is the most prestigious annual event that brings together captains of industry in both technology and financial worlds.

According to Ken Nwogbo, CEO, Communication Week Media Ltd, organisers of the ABoICT Distinguished Lecture/Awards Series, “the choice of Prof. Yakub Aliyu is deliberate because of his exceptional career in Artificial Intelligence (AI)”.

He added that, AI is considered to have the potential to instigate a fourth industrial revolution,1 and is dramatically changing people’s patterns of interaction and economic activities.

“The traditional factors of production and physical capital and labour may no longer promote substantial economic growth. It is generally believed that AI will be one of the most important factors determining future economic growth,” he said.

A professor of microelectronics and a scholar-practitioner in artificial intelligence and deep machine learning for industrial applications and high-speed application processors. His research interests include Multimodal AI models for high-efficiency industrial robot applications and Human AI interactions.

He also has adjunct academic professorships at five African, USA, and UK universities. Holds a BS in Applied Physics Electronics from Karlsruhe and A Bello Universities in Germany and Nigeria, an MBA in International Business Management from the University of London, an MSEE (Master of Engineering, Electronics), and a Ph.D. in Electronics Engineering from the University of Wales.

Prof. Aliyu is the global quality director for Bourns Inc., Riverside, California, USA, an electronics system, and components manufacturer. I oversee quality functions in 21 factories worldwide.

He has also held quality and operational management leadership positions at National Semiconductors, Bell Labs-Lucent Technology, Texas Instrument, Global Foundries, and Roper Technologies USA.

Authored and coauthored over 30 Advanced Technology United States-issued patents in High-Speed Application Processors and Contributed to over 40 international impact Journals, chapters, and conferences; FASI, SMIEEE USA, MIEE UK, M. Inst pf Physics Chartered Phys and C Eng UK.

Past lecturers included Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, then executive vice chairman, Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC); Engr. Yomi Bolarinwa, former Director-General of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC); Dr. Jean Luc Fort, CEO at OR System France and a specialist in Counterparty Risk; and Professor Chris Nwagboso, Chairman, Knowledge Factory International, United Kingdom.

Others are: Uche Orji, managing director/chief executive officer, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA); Biodu Omoniyi, Managing Director/CEO, VDT Communications; Ayotunde Coker, Managing Director, Rack Centre Limited; Peter Adedayo Arogundade, managing director and chief executive officer, Sidmach Technologies Nigeria Limited; Dr. Adewale Obadare, chief visionary officer, Digital Encode and John Obaro, CEO and founder of Systemspecs; Prof. Isa Pantanmi, minister of Communications and Digital Economy; Dr. Seyi Akindeind, co-founder, Digital Encode; Dr Krishnan Ranganath, Regional Director, Africa Data Centres.


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