NCC, WIPO Organize Capacity Building Workshop on IP Rights for Judiciary

Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) in the thrust of its mandate to advance the growth of Creative Industry through strengthening of Institutional capacity has organized a train the trainers’ workshop for judicial training institutions in the country last month.

The capacity building training which was held at the National Judicial Institute, Jabi – Abuja in collaboration with the World Intellectual property Organization (WIPO) aims at equipping trainers with the necessary intellectual capacity to enhance the knowledge of Judges on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR).

Delivering his keynote address, the Director-General, NCC, Mr. Afam Ezekude stated that the training will no doubt enhance the knowledge horizon of Judges on matters of Intellectual Property (IP) in Nigeria.

Mr. Ezekude while appreciating WIPO for nominating Nigeria as one of the benefiting Countries for this laudable training initiative noted that the training will have a lasting positive effect on the nation’s jurisprudence as regarding IP.

The training was held in furtherance of WIPO’s project on ‘Development and Intellectual Property Rights Education and Professional Trainings with Judicial Training Institutions in Developing and least Developed Countries’.

According to the Project Manager, WIPO Academy and representative of the DG WIPO, Mr. Mohammed Aderaouf Bdioui, Nigeria, Nepal, Costa Rica and Lebanon are pilot countries nominated in the quest to build capacity for efficient and effective national IPR education and training programme for judges.

The training workshop anchored by the NCC Director of Regulatory, Mr. Mike Akpan, focused extensively on IP topics like Copyright and Related Rights, Trademarks, Patent and Industrial Designs, Trade secrets and Geographical location.

Other topics of IP such as traditional knowledge and alternative dispute resolution of IP, Discussions on Court cases were held as well as interactive sessions.

The recommendations of the sessions are as follows:

– That the training module on Copyright Education and Enlightenment should be simplified and well structured to serve the purpose of understanding the content and context by the intended audience

– That the rationale for protection of Trademarks, well known Marks and Passing Off should be fully explained in the modules for training as well as the differences.

– That there is need for urgent review of the Patent and Designs Act Cap P4 LFN 2004 which is now obsolete

– That the module for Confidential Information and Trade Secrets should include protection of Trade Secrets through the Constitutional Right to Privacy under section 37 of the Constitution, Freedom of Information Act and Cyber Squatting under the Cyber Crimes Act.

– That the Geographical Location Module should incorporate examples in Nigeria of Geographical indications and other examples in Africa.

– That the provisions of the Nigerian law on Traditional Knowledge, Traditional Cultural Expressions should be brought out clearly in the Module and should consist of more Nigerian and African cases.

On the modalities to train judges it was agreed that they must be treated with utmost respect through appropriate choice of words and mode of delivery to ensure that there is highest regard for them while trainers must see themselves as discussants aiding the judges to widen their horizon.

The National Consultant of the Project, Mr. John Ohi Asein, stated that the objective of the program is to consolidate knowledge and expertise of the selected future trainers in IPRs in order to transmit the acquired skills to members of the judiciary in Nigeria.

Observations and recommendations of the participants through syndicated groups are to be forwarded to the national consultant of the project for incorporation into the modules to be adopted for the trainings.

The Administrator, National Judicial Institute represented by the Director of Studies described the workshop as a worthy exercise aimed at enhancing the quality of the nation’s judiciary in the quest to dispense equitable and fair justice.

Others at the training workshop include; Professor Bankole Sodipo – GO Sodipo & Co, Prof. Ben Shinaya- University of Nairobi, Prof. Oyewunmi Adejoke – University of lagos, Prof. Odunaike Dorcas – Babcock University, Mrs. Ojo Caroline Taiwo – NOTAP Abuja, Mrs. Usen Enobong – Patent, Trademark and Industrial Design office, Abuja, Mr. Ajala Oluwafemi O. Esq-NCC Abuja and 11 other resource persons were present for the event.