Eric Dumo
In a renewed effort to clamp down on piracy and theft of intellectual property, the Federal Government has initiated a partnership with major stakeholders across various economic sectors to raise awareness on the issue.
At a stakeholders meeting organised by the United We Stand Campaign Collective, the Federal Government, through the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Hajiya Aisha Abubakar, vowed to punish individuals and groups sabotaging the economy through acts of piracy.
Delivering a keynote address at the event, Abubakar said the awareness campaign would not only educate members of the public on the issue but also instill fear in anyone currently perpetrating the act of counterfeiting and intellectual property theft.
She said, “This initiative is a step in the right direction towards creating awareness among stakeholders. It is a platform for dialogue, for evolving effective intellectual property framework, for the strengthening, protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights.
“On our part, we shall continue to provide institutional support to strengthen the capacities of agencies and departments under the ministry to deliver on their mandates which includes the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights in collaboration with all relevant stakeholders.”
Divided into two sections, the stakeholders meeting brought together experts from various fields, who engaged the minister and other top government officials present on how to help protect their works, services and products from being pirated.
A panel of discussants drawn from the public and private sectors examined the health, social and economic impact of piracy on investments and the society at large during the meeting.
Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele-Bello, entrepreneur, Tara Fela-Durotoye, Storm 360 record label boss, Obi Asika, and Managing Partner, RED Media Africa, Chude Jideonwo, were among notable personalities at the event.
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