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NCC Sensitizes Universities on Protection of Intellectual Property

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Mr. Afam Ezekude, Director-General, Nigerian Copyright Commission, (NCC) has said that, as  more nations leverage on their innovations and creative resource pool as foundation for development, Nigeria being a country with abundant human talents and creativity, cannot afford not to be an active participant of the new global knowledge driven system.

The DG disclosed this in a paper presentation titled “The Role of NCC in Acquiring and Protecting Copyright for Nigerian Universities” at the 2016 Universities and Entrepreneurship Conference and Expo held at the University of Calabar recently.

Ezekude explained that Copyright is an arm of intellectual property which essentially provides protection for creativity in the literary and artistic fields and further expounded the underlying philosophy of copyright which is to grant certain exclusive rights to authors and creators of works to enable them derive economic recompense that serves as incentives for more creative ventures.

He also highlighted on the statutory framework for copyright protection and enforcement in Nigeria as enshrined in the Copyright Act, Cap C28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

On Enforcement and Administration of rights, the DG equally stated that the myriads of challenges confronting the rights owners which makes it difficult for them to effectively protect and enforce their rights, necessitated the establishment of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) . 

The Commission, in the discharge of its mandate, strengthens Rights Management in the Industry through proactive Enforcement and Prosecution of Copyright offences and strengthening the policy framework of Copyright administration.

Pursuant to its Right Management goals, the Commission established the e-registration system in 2014 as a platform to enhance protection and management of rights. Although Copyright is automatic upon creation of a work, subsequent registration of the work under the e-registration system facilitates recording and proof of the existence of the work, Mr. Ezekude said.

He also hinted that the e-registration platform will be particularly useful to the academic communities whose primary activities involve the creation of scholarly works, most of which are not published for public access. Putting such materials in the data base of the e-registration system provides an advantage to document facts relating to authorship and ownership of rights therein.

While calling on authors and prospective rights owners to take advantage of some structures put in place by the Commission, the DG enlightened the University Community also on the Collective Management System, which allows individual authors to come together and pool their rights which are collectively managed by an organization.

This system, he explained, helps authors to maintain reasonable control over the use of their works in a manner that they also derive economic benefits from them.  He said the Commission also puts in checks and balances to regulate such organizations to ensure that authors obtain the benefits of the system.

The DG listed examples of Collective Management Organizations (CMO) approved by the Commission to date as:
•    Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON)
•    Reproductive Rights Society of Nigeria (REPRONIG)
•    Audiovisual Rights Society of Nigeria (AVRS)

On the future of copyright legislation in Nigeria, Mr. Ezekude informed that the Commission in November 2012 launched the Reform of the Copyright System to reposition the Nigerian creative industries for greater growth; strengthen their capacity to compete more effectively in the global marketplace, and also enable Nigeria to fully satisfy its obligations under the various International Copyright Instruments.

Highlights of the event were presentations by different speakers and distribution of the Commission’s leaflet on ‘Summary of Enforcement and Prosecutorial Efforts of the Nigerian Copyright Commission from 2011 to second Quarter 2016’, and snapshots by participants.


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E-Business

OADC Lagos Reinforces Commitment to Local Data Hosting and Digital Transformation @ NDPC’s National Privacy Week Summit

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Open Access Data Centres (OADC) Lagos has reaffirmed its commitment to Nigeria’s data protection and digital transformation agenda through its sponsorship and active participation in the Nigeria Data Protection Commission’s (NDPC) National Privacy Week Summit.

The National Privacy Week Summit, organised by the NDPC, convened policymakers, regulators, technology providers, and industry stakeholders to promote data privacy awareness, strengthen compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA), and advance conversations around data security, sovereignty, and responsible data governance.

As a sponsor of the event, OADC Lagos demonstrated its continued support for the Federal Government’s drive toward local data hosting and data domiciliation, which are increasingly critical to safeguarding sensitive information, enhancing regulatory compliance, and building trust in Nigeria’s digital economy.

Through its carrier-neutral, Tier III Design certified data centre in Lekki, Lagos, OADC provides secure, resilient, and compliant infrastructure that enables government institutions and private sector organisations to host and manage data locally while meeting international best practices.

Commenting on the engagement, Adesola Adesugba, Country Marketing Manager, Open Access Data Centres Nigeria, said: “We are proud to have supported the Nigeria Data Protection Commission through the National Privacy Week Summit and to stand alongside the government in advancing Nigeria’s digital transformation objectives.

“Strengthening local data hosting and domiciliation is fundamental to national data sovereignty, improved security, and sustainable digital growth, and OADC Lagos remains committed to enabling this future.”

OADC’s participation at National Privacy Week Summit underscores its role as a trusted digital infrastructure partner to government and enterprise, supporting secure cloud connectivity, regulatory compliance, and the long-term development of Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.

Open Access Data Centres is part of the WIOCC Group and operates open-access, world-class data centres across Africa, serving cloud providers, network operators, enterprises, and public sector institutions.


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Kaspersky Launches OT Calculator to Align Cybersecurity Investments with Business Goals

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Kaspersky’s new online tool has been specially developed for industrial organisations to assess the potential costs associated with insufficient operational technology (OT) security.

By offering detailed financial forecasts, the calculator empowers senior management to make well-informed decisions regarding security investments.

Industrial organisations increasingly depend on interconnected systems, elevating cybersecurity to a critical factor in business resilience and profitability.

According to VDC Research, over 60% of industrial companies last year reported that cybersecurity breaches had led to significant costs. Despite this, a persistent disconnect remains between security teams and executive leadership as security professionals focus on minimising risk, while executives must balance cybersecurity concerns with broader business objectives. This misalignment often results in competing priorities and underfunded security initiatives.

To bridge this gap, Kaspersky has launched the OT Cybersecurity Savings Calculator, an innovative online tool designed specifically for industrial organisations to assess the potential costs of inadequate operational technology (OT) security¹.

The primary aim of this tool is to translate cyber risks into tangible financial metrics and support strategic discussions around priorities and budget allocation. By entering details such as their sector, sub-sector, region, company size, breach history, and existing cybersecurity measures, organisations can estimate their potential cost savings and receive customised, actionable recommendations.

The calculator benchmarks performance against industry peers and highlights the company’s position within the current threat landscape.

“We believe this calculator is a powerful resource for transforming complex cyber risk data into straightforward financial insights. It enables OT leaders, security professionals, and executive teams to develop clear, data-driven business cases and recognise the value of cybersecurity investments. With actionable guidance, it promotes a comprehensive approach to resource management and strengthens overall organisational resilience,” comments Andrey Strelkov, Head of Industrial Cybersecurity Product line at Kaspersky.


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Local App Developers Rake $1m in Sales in 2025- NOTAP

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National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) has said Nigerian software developers have reached significant milestones with locally made applications generating over one million Dollar in sales across domestic and regional markets.

Local App Developers Rake $1m in Sales in 2025- NOTAP

Dr Obiageli Amadiobi, director-general of NOTAP, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Thursday in Abuja.

Amadiobi said the development signified the growing strength of Nigeria’s digital innovation ecosystem and how local innovation powers digital growth.

She said it was also a direct outcome of targeted support initiatives led by NOTAP.

She added that the initiative helped to build capacity, protect intellectual property, and connect developers to market opportunities.

According to the NOTAP boss, the journey from concept to impact started with understanding and securing intellectual property (IP) rights, a step many local innovators missed.

“Whether it’s a literary work, a laboratory invention, or a creative digital product, the process of bringing an idea to life demands immense time, skill, and dedication.

“An innovator might wake up with a solution to a pressing problem; spend months testing and refining it and achieve remarkable results; so it is their fundamental right to patent that creation and claim ownership.

“Without this protection, someone else could easily replicate their work; patent it in their name; and legally control what was built with Nigerian brainpower,” she said.

Amadiobi said that the challenge was compounded by widespread digital piracy and counterfeiting, which hit the ICT sector hardest.

“From copied software applications to replicated content on social platforms like TikTok, unauthorised duplication has become a major barrier to growth.

“We see talented young creators develop unique digital content or tools, only to watch others rebrand and profit from their work within weeks,” she said.

The DG noted that most popular online personalities with distinctive styles often don’t realise they could protect their original contributions through IP registration.

She said that to address these gaps and unlock the value of Nigerian innovation, NOTAP implemented a multi-pronged strategy,- a cornerstone initiative – which is the Local Vendor Policy.

“The Local Vendor Policy mandates that foreign technology firms entering Nigeria partner with domestic counterparts,’’ she said.

Amadiobi said that among the performing apps are solutions addressing critical local challenges such as a mobile health platform that now serves 750,000 users across six states.

“There is also the agricultural marketplace connecting smallholder farmers to buyers; and an educational tool that has been adopted by 200 schools to improve learning outcomes,” she said.

She added that the apps were developed by teams that gained skills and resources through NOTAP’s Local Vendor Policy.

According to her, the policy requires foreign technology firms operating in Nigeria to allocate a portion of their technical service fees to local partners.

“Three years ago, many of these developers were only providing support services to foreign companies.

“But today, they are building their own products that compete globally. 60 per cent of last year’s sales came from other African countries, showing our developers can lead on the continent,” she said.

The D-G explained that the one million dollar figure represented sales from over 50 locally developed apps, with individual developers earning between 5,000 dollars and 80,000 dollars from their products.

“Looking ahead, NOTAP aims to double these sales figures by 2027, with plans to expand support to developers focusing on fintech, renewable energy management, and climate adaptation tools.

“These are the sectors identified as high-growth opportunities for Nigerian innovation,’’ Amadiobi said


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