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ICC, BASCAP Unite Against Piracy, Counterfeiting in Nigeria

Published

7 years ago

07/06/2018

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Investors in Nigeria can now heave a sigh of relief as the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has now taken a drastic step against piracy and counterfeiting in the country. The global body has commissioned a working group that would give the fight against the social vices an effective backing in Nigeria.

The ICC delegation drawn from France; Middle East, Africa, Pakistan, UAE; Sweden and Nigeria converged at Eko Hotel, Lagos on Wednesday, where the dangers of counterfeiting and piracy were again examined and solutions proffered.

In his address to the forum, Mr Babatunde Savage, Chairman, International Chamber of Commerce Nigeria, said counterfeiting damages the market dynamics, as it undermines the revenue generation through custom duties and taxes.

Represented at the occasion by Mrs Olubunmi Osuntuyi, Secretary General, ICC Nigeria, Savage stated that the menace exposes consumers to serious health and safety risks. His words: “Counterfeiting and piracy have become a global epidemic, leading to a significant drain of the global economy, jeopardizing investments in innovation and risking consumer health and safety; thereby resulting in loss of jobs.”

In response to this epidemic, the chairman said ICC launched the BASCAP initiative to unite the global business community across all product sectors in order to address issues associated with intellectual property theft and to petition for greater commitments by local, national and international officials in the area of enforcement and protection of intellectual property rights.

He observed that the volume and value of counterfeiting and piracy is increasing rapidly; thereby threatening governments, and civil society with unsafe and ineffective products.

Mr Savage therefore charged the audience at the forum that business needs to play its role in ensuring that open economies and the rule of law work for the benefit of all countries and their nationals. He advised that they should find lasting solutions that would create equitable opportunities for every willing person to participate in growth.

Corroborating his view, Sophie Peresson, the Paris, France-based BASCAP Director, said BASCAP has, since its inception, created a powerful voice for businesses and compelled government actions and allocation of resources towards strengthened intellectual property rights enforcement.

Represented by Tracy Faustin, BASCAP Project Manager, Peresson disclosed that the opportunity to engage on the African continent started with a BASCAP invitation to speak at a conference hosted in Kenya by the East African Business Community (EABC).

The forum, she revealed, developed into collaborative partnerships with the Kenyan Anti-Counterfeit Agency, a government established association overseeing matters related to counterfeiting and piracy.

She stated: “Nigeria was later selected as a priority country to start building a BASCAP presence on the ground, which prompted the meeting.

Other dignitaries present at the meeting include: Uche Nwokocha, Partner & Head, Intellectual Property Department, Aluko and Oyebode & Anti-Cpounterfeiting Collaboration (ACC) of Nigeria; Adeola Akinnibosun, Manager, Corporate Affairs & Communications, Japan Tobacco International; Wael Adhami, Head, Brand Protection, Middle East, Africa Pakistan & UAE; Felix Ologbonyo, Corporate Counsel, Nestle Nigeria; Staffan Holmberg, Brand Protection Manager, SKF, Sweden; and Margaret Olele, CEO/Executive Secretary, American Business Council Nigeria.

The ICC is the world’s business organisation, representing over 6 million companies of all sizes and sectors and chambers of commerce in more than 100 countries. Nigeria became a member over 30 years ago, sequel to the realization of the benefits accruable form becoming a member.

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The LOGIC Church Plans ‘Jesus + Nothing Worship’ for Good Friday

Published

12 hours ago

13/04/2025

Dipo Olowookere

Apostle Flourish Peters The Logic Church

By Dipo Olowookere

On Friday, April 18, 2025, all roads will lead to the headquarters of the Love of God in Christ (LOGIC) Church in the Lekki area of Lagos State for an uplifting evening dedicated to expressing the message of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ in music.

The day, which is Good Friday, has been set aside to celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is the cornerstone of Christian faith.

Christian faithful from across the global will gather for the hybrid programme tagged Jesus + Nothing Worship, a platform that provides worshippers an opportunity to connect with the essence of the Gospel in worship.

Soul-lifting singers expected to minister on that day include Neon Adejo, Greatman Takit, Victor Thompson, Timi Dakolo, Samuel Giveson (SMJ), Noble G, Steve Hills, and Lily Perez.

Others are Joxie, Anderson Qozan, Pastor Victor Paul, EmekaSongz, Flo, Dorcas Moore, Magpsalms, Mera Owili, Gerald Bishung, Phebe Lion, and the vibrant Evolution Children’s Choir.

The Lead Pastor and Apostolic Head of the LOGIC Church, Apostle Flourish Peters, while commenting ahead of the event, said, “As a Christocentric faith community, this event is a great way to celebrate the gift of Christ, who laid down his life for our redemption. Good Friday is a great time to have a worship celebration like this.”

“Nothing speaks to the culture of a people like the music they listen to. Jesus + Nothing Worship will contribute to shaping and mainstreaming a culture of christocentric worship, where the Gospel of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection is platformed through worship,” he added.

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SERAP Calls for Withdrawal of Nigeria’s Data Act Amendment

Published

13 hours ago

13/04/2025

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called for the withdrawal of the amendment of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 because it seeks to regulate the activities of bloggers operating within the territorial boundaries of Nigeria.

The organisation in its letter urged the Senate President, Mr Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Tajudeen Abbas, to “immediately withdraw the repressive bill.”

Business Post reports that the titled A Bill for an Act to Amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, to Mandate the Establishment of Physical Offices within the Territorial Boundaries of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by Social Media Platforms and for Related Matters among others intends to regulate bloggers, including by requiring all bloggers to register local offices and join recognised national association for bloggers.

Currently, the bill has passed its first and second reading in the Senate.

In the letter signed its deputy director, Mr Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP asked Mr Akpabio and Mr Abbas “to ensure that any amendment to the Nigeria Data Protection Act promotes and protects the rights of bloggers and other journalists and does not undermine the fundamental human rights of Nigerians.”

It demanded an end to “the imposition of unnecessary restrictions on the rights of Nigerians online and Internet-based content.”

In the letter dated April 12, 2025, the group said, “This bill is a blatant attempt to bring back and fast-track the obnoxious and widely rejected social media bill by the back-door.”

“If passed, the bill would also be used to ban major social media platforms—including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, TikTok, and independent bloggers if they ‘continuously fail to establish/register and maintain physical offices in Nigeria for a period of 30 days.

“Lawmakers should not become arbiters of truth in the public and political domain. Regulating the activities of bloggers and forcing them to associate would have a significant chilling effect on freedom of expression and lead to censorship or restraint.

“Should the National Assembly and its leadership fail to withdraw the bill to regulate the activities of bloggers, and should any such bill be assented to by President Bola Tinubu, SERAP would consider appropriate legal action to challenge the legality of any such law and ensure it is never implemented in the public interest,” the organisation warned.