Broadcasting
WIPO Nigeria Canvasses Integration of IP into National Planning Strategies
The Federal Government has been urged to fully incorporate issues of Intellectual Property (IP) within the country’s National Planning Strategies.
Counselor and Head of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Nigeria Office (WNO), Dr. Oluwatobiloba Moody, made the called in Abuja recently, as the Director-General of Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), Dr. John O. Asein inducted 18 winners and finalists of the WIPO National IP Essay Competition 2021 as Copyright Ambassadors. The theme of the competition instituted as part of activities marking the World Intellectual Property (IP) Day 2021 is: “IP, SMEs and Economic Recovery in Nigeria”.
Representative of the Director-General, NCC and Director, Finance and Accounts, Mr. Mark Obasi, noted that the essence of the study visit of the finalists to the Commission was to advance the gains of the students’ IP knowledge beyond the essay competition. He charged the 18 National IP Essay competition finalists that, having been inducted as Copyright Ambassadors, they should actively promote copyright awareness in their institutions and respective communities.
Dr. Moody, who led the IP Essay winners and finalists on a study visit to the Commission’s Headquarters, commended the ongoing efforts of Nigerian Government towards the development of a National Policy on Intellectual Property.
He said IP was a growing field in Nigeria which should be invested in substantially considering its huge development potentials. He added that IP education should be actively driven in all the universities and tertiary institutions which should be encouraged to incorporate IP as a priority course on their academic curricula.
The WIPO counselor noted that efforts at entrenching IP in Nigeria were on course, with sensitisation being driven at various levels. “We are not there yet but we are understanding the issues and pushing out a lot of initiatives to ensure that people are aware of the opportunities in IP and how it can play a major role in driving Nigeria’s future”, he stated.
According to him, a total of 170 students of tertiary institutions participated in the IP essay competition from across the country.
He indicated that the price package for the winners comprised a capacity building process in IP, including facilitation of their study tours to national IP organisations like the NCC, National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), Trade Marks and Patents Registries; access to scholarships for WIPO Distance Learning courses; as well as international travels for IP development opportunities.
He commended the NCC for its supportive role and for hosting the finalists of the IP essay competitions in 2020 and 2021.
During their study visit to the NCC, the IP essay winners and finalists were exposed to knowledge of the regulatory and enforcement mandates of the Commission, and commercialisation potentials of copyright and IP rights.
Miss Oyin Komolafe, a 300 level law student of University of Ibadan, Oyo State, emerged as the overall winner of the competition while the two runners-up were Miss Honour Dahunsi, a 300 level law student of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State and Miss Chimdiebere Anya-Awa, a 400 level law student of University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State.
Miss Komolafe said she was elated being adjudged as the best in the competition in view of the prize and opportunities that abound for the winners. “IP is a nascent area in the field of law and I feel that with the opportunities attached, I will be able to optimise my expertise to practise IP law upon graduation”, she stated.
The finalists, also inducted as Copyright Ambassadors, were Ms. Blessing Nwankwo, a 300 level law student of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State; Ms. Queen Letam Nwibani, a 500 level law student of Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Rivers State; Mr. Badrudeen Lawal, a 500 level law student of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State; Mr. Moses Olanrewaju and Mr. Abdulrahman Adebowale Adetunji; both 500 level law students of University of Ibadan, Oyo State; Mr. Gesiye-emi Emiemokumo, a 400 level law student of Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State; Ms. Chioma Janefrances Ibeh, a 400 level dentistry student of University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State; and Mr. Oludayo Olufowobi, a 400 level law student of University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos State.
Others were Mr. Victor Fabarebo, a 300 level law student of University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State; Mr. Maduabuchi Kingsley Arinze, a 500 level mechanical engineering student of University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State; Mr. Joshua Chizoma and Ms. Priscilla Okiwelu, both 500 level law students of University of University of Nigeria, Nsukka, among others.
Mr. Mike Akpan, Director of the training arm of NCC, Nigerian Copyright Academy (NCA), one of the resource persons that briefed the students, observed that a lot of people were getting interested in the field of IP and added that opportunities abound for IP scholars to explore the development potentials in Nigeria.
It would be recalled that the finalists of the maiden edition of the WIPO National IP Essay Competition in 2020 were similarly inducted Copyright Ambassadors at the Commission’s Headquarters in April 2021.
Others in attendance included: Director, Administration, Dr. Idowu Ogunkuade; Director, Planning Research and Statistics, Mr. Bitrus Dauda; Director, Regulatory, Mr. Augustine Amodu; and Director, Public Affairs, Mr. Vincent A. Oyefeso.
Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria (BON) has established six committees to help strengthen and modernize the country’s broadcasting industry.
The committees will focus on content creation, skills development, digital transformation, sustainability, policy and commercial opportunities
The initiative aims to support industry growth and improve collaboration between broadcasters, regulators and media experts
The official launch recently, was led by Tony Akiotu, president, BON and attended by media professionals, program directors, former journalists and heads of specialized media organizations.
The event brought together several prominent figures in Nigeria’s media industry, including veteran broadcaster and trainer Bimbo Oloyede, Tony Uyah of M4S TV, Kingsley Uranta of Channels Television, Ismael Sani of Platinum TV and Ibrahim Shehu of Trust TV.
Together, they are expected to help drive innovation and support the growth of Nigeria’s broadcasting sector.
According to Akiotu, the committees are intended both to help shape industry policy and to provide a forum for dialogue between BON and broadcasting experts.
Akiotu said the ad hoc committees were intended to strengthen BON’s work and ensure that the umbrella body for Nigeria’s broadcasters played a more direct and meaningful role in developing the country’s broadcasting sector.
The six committees reflect the sector’s main priorities. The first focuses on collaboration and innovation to promote content creation.
The second is dedicated to training and talent development, while the third focuses on industry sustainability by improving the sector’s long-term financial viability.
A fourth committee will focus on digital transformation and work with the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) on regulatory issues.
The remaining two committees will oversee public policy advocacy and the development of sports and commercial rights to help broadcasters increase revenue and attract more investment. Together, the committees are expected to guide BON’s efforts to modernize and strengthen Nigeria’s broadcasting industry.
The committees, chaired by members of BON’s General Assembly and supported by the organization’s Secretariat, have an initial 12-month mandate that may be renewed if necessary.
They are required to submit a progress report within three months and implement approved recommendations within the following six months.
The arrangement is intended to ensure close oversight and the timely implementation of their work.
Akiotu also reminded committee members that Nigeria pioneered television broadcasting in Africa and urged them to carry out their work with greater effectiveness and efficiency.
Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) says it is investigating about 34 tertiary institutions over allegations that they failed to refund students whose tuition fees were paid twice under the Federal Government’s student loan scheme.
The Managing Director of NELFUND, Mr Akintunde Sawyerr, disclosed this during an interview on Arise Television.
Sawyerr said the agency had deployed a five-member investigative team, including operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and internal auditors, to examine the allegations.
According to him, the investigation was prompted by numerous complaints received from affected students.
“As of right now, there are 34 institutions that we are looking at closely with respect to this issue,” he said.
Sawyerr explained that the double payment issue arose because President Bola Tinubu directed that the student loan scheme commence in the middle of an academic session instead of at the beginning.
He said the decision compelled many students to pay their tuition fees to meet registration deadlines while awaiting approval of their loan applications.
“What happened is that a lot of schools got double payment; some from the students and some from us,” he said.
“The refund process is entirely out of our hands. It is the recipient of the double payments that is obliged to make refunds to the students.”
The NELFUND boss noted that many students had borrowed money from family members, friends and other sources to pay their tuition with the expectation of receiving refunds once the loans were disbursed.
He said while some institutions had promptly refunded affected students, others had failed to do so.
“Some have been very good at this. Others haven’t been so good at it,” Sawyerr said.
“I reserve judgement on the intentionality around it because, for some of them, they just didn’t have the process to make refunds.”
Sawyerr disclosed that NELFUND was exploring a tokenised payment system that would enable students to authorise tuition payments directly to their institutions, thereby reducing the likelihood of duplicate payments.
He said the agency deliberately chose not to disburse tuition loans directly to students to minimise the risk of fund diversion.
“Paying the funds to the students could really lead to the temptation for them to divert and do other things,” he said.
The managing director, however, acknowledged that NELFUND lacked the statutory powers to compel institutions to refund students or prosecute officials found culpable.
He added that many frustrated students had submitted complaints not only to NELFUND but also to anti-corruption agencies, including the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Sawyerr also expressed concern over increases in tuition fees by some institutions following the introduction of the student loan scheme.
He said NELFUND had declined to pay institutions that increased their tuition fees beyond acceptable levels.
“Some schools, because they get paid easily, started to put up their fees. We refused, point blank, to pay institutions who had hiked their fees beyond a certain level,” he said.
He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to investigating every reported irregularity and strengthening the implementation of the student loan programme through continuous monitoring and internal reviews.
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