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ECOWAS Launches AfricDeezayn App to Boost Creativity and Talent in West Africa
ECOWAS Launches AfricDeezayn App to Boost Creativity and Talent in West Africa
By: Michael Mike
AfricDeezayn application has been officially launched in West Africa to provide a virtual online space for designers in the subregion to showcase their creativity and talent and interact as a community.
The project, which is a creation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), is supported by Japan and the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).
Speaking at the launch in Abuja on Tuesday, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Mrs. Massandje Toure-Litse said AfricDeezayn (a digital tool) will enabled talented designers in West Africa to contribute to the region’s industrial development by stimulating innovation.
Toure-Litse, who was represented by Dr. Anthony Elumelu, said “a design is the intentional creation of solutions with a focus on aesthetics, functionality and user experience. It goes beyond visual appearance to include usability, ergonomics, accessibility and other aspects that influence the way we, as users, interact with a product or service.”
She explained that it can be applied to a range of fields, including graphic design, industrial design, user experience design, user interface design and service design, all with a view to seducing consumers and maintaining their trust.
She noted that AfricDeezayn application developed in collaboration with WIPO and funded by Japan is closely aligned with the vision of ECOWAS to promote technological innovation, job creation and creation of an appropriate environment which will lead to wealth and economic and social progress.
She said the project was in line with ECOWAS Commission’s aims of promoting sustainable and inclusive agricultural, industrial and intellectual productivity, adding that: “This is an opportunity for us to call on the private sector players in our region, particularly those in the Design Community, to take ownership of this tool and use it as a potential vector for innovation and improved productivity.”
On his part, the Senior Director, Department for Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications (DTIDGI), Brands and Designs Sector (BDS), World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), Mr. Marcus Hopperger, said “AfricDeezayn is a bridge between us and the people that are at the core of our institutional efforts. We represent organisations committed to promoting IP as a tool for development and growth. AfricDeezayn opens to us the virtual world of communication, helping our outreach to key stakeholders of the Design ecosystem – designers, small and large businesses, IP practitioners and agents, the academe, women and youth groups – to more effectively address their information needs so that IP rights over designs are protected and the resulting benefits are fully enjoyed by their creators.”
He added that: “They will find in AfricDeezayn an educational hub for learning about design laws, with guides in navigating the process of applying for and registering designs to obtain their protection.
“AfricDeezayn does more than inform. It also shares the stories of many designers, whether young and mature entrepreneurs – their struggles and rewards, their aspirations and journey – these are well-springs of inspiration and motivation for fellow West African artists and design enthusiasts.”
He noted that: “AfricDeezayn is the first platform in West Africa (and most likely the African continent) that is not only dedicated to Designs-related information, it also offers the Design communities in the ECOWAS countries a forum to connect with each other. AfricDeezayn honours the creative spirit of West Africa and its rich cultural heritage – and the men and women forming part of these communities. They deserve a platform through which they can easily get in touch with each other on any design-related issues while being supported in their communication needs.
“Better still, AfricDeezayn allocates space for designers to showcase their creations for optimal online visibility, empowering them to thrive in the competitive world of business and potentially generating commercial possibilities.”
He added that: “As the design communities in West Africa flourish, AfricDeezayn is their get-go tool throughout their creative journey. AfricDeezayn’s strength lies in its ability to enable designers across West Africa and beyond, transcending geographical boundaries. The prevalence of mobile phones in the region and the African continent makes AfricDeezayn a vital resource accessible to all. Recent statistics highlight the remarkable growth of IP activity in West Africa. According to World Intellectual Property Indicators [published by WIPO], the annual growth rates for the number of designs in 2022 were particularly high at the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) with a growth rate of 49.4% and at the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) with a growth rate of 8.8%. We are confident that progress will continue and that the advent of AfricDeezayn will contribute to the efforts in the region, especially through ECOWAS and its Member States.”
“I encourage everyone to download AfricDeezayn on Google Play and to spread the news. Let us usher in a movement where creativity is celebrated, protected, and empowered, while leveraging available technologies in the process. Today, we are not just launching an app, we are embracing the vast possibilities of virtual communication in mobile form to best serve our design stakeholders,” he said.
Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Matsunaga Kazuyoshi said AfricDeezayn will create great opportunity for development in West Africa, noting that with resources like AfricDeezayn, designers in the ECOWAS region
can achieve great wealth.
He said: “This app isn’t just about information, it’s a catalyst for connection within the global design community.
This innovative platform, the first of its kind, connects designers with
opportunities, funding and businesses, fostering collaboration and a
robust design ecosystem in the ECOWAS region and beyond.”
He added that: “This initiative, born out of the joint efforts of the ECOWAS region
and WIPO, is revolutionising the way intellectual property is understood and used around the world. Its impact extends beyond the region and promises to raise
awareness and practice of design throughout Africa.”
ECOWAS Launches AfricDeezayn App to Boost Creativity and Talent in West Africa
VP Shettima To Insurgents: We Will Not Be Cowed By Attempts To Undermine Our Collective Peace
By: Our Reporter
Following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reaching out to the government and people of Borno State regarding the latest insurgency attack in the State, Vice President Kashim Shettima has assured that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not be cowed by despicable acts of cowardice and a doomed attempt to undermine the collective peace of the nation.
Deploring the attacks, including the abductions in Ngoshe and the coordinated assaults on military formations in Konduga, Marte, Jakana, and Mainok, the Vice President reaffirmed that the administration remains resolute in its duty to protect the lives and properties of all Nigerians.
In a statement on Saturday, Senator Shettima emphasised that the Federal Government is already deploying additional tactical assets and intelligence-driven reinforcements to the affected areas.
“The events of the past few days are a painful reminder of the shadow that persists, but let it be known: we choose light over shadow, and hope over despair. Our difference as a nation is the distance between the ruin of anarchy and the promise of order.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been briefed and has already directed a swift and total mobilisation of our security architecture. The Federal Government will not tolerate any sanctuary for those who seek to displace our people or occupy an inch of Nigerian soil,” he said.
The Vice President assured that the perpetrators of these beastly crimes would face the full wrath of the law.
He continued: “We are not just fighting a war. We are defending the very soul of our humanity against those who preach a toxic rhetoric of hate, and we will not be cowed by their gory acts.
“Our hearts bleed for the families in and the brave soldiers who paid the supreme price in the line of duty. This administration will not rest until abducted citizens safely reunite with their families.”
VP Shettima commended the resilience of the people and government of Borno State under Governor Babagana Zulum and praised the gallantry of the troops on the frontlines.
“We remain one nation, tied to a common destiny. The sanctity of human life is non-negotiable. This madness will be brought to an end, not with empty words, but with the decisive and overwhelming force of the Nigerian State,” he further assured.
VP Shettima To Insurgents: We Will Not Be Cowed By Attempts To Undermine Our Collective Peace
Two miners killed, five injured in clash at Zamfara mining site
By: Zagazola Makama
Two miners have been killed and five others injured following a clash at a mining site in Abare area of Bukkuyum Local Government Area of Zamfara.
Police sources said the incident occurred on March 5 at about 8:30 a.m. at a mining site in the community.
The sources said the crisis was triggered when a member of an outlawed vigilance group, locally known as Yan Sakai, allegedly stormed the site and attempted to enforce observance of the ongoing Ramadan fast among Muslim miners.
According to the sources, the suspect, identified simply as Kaura, allegedly arrested some of the miners, accusing them of refusing to observe the fasting period.
He was also said to have imposed compulsory levies on those arrested.
The action was reportedly resisted by some miners who objected to the arrest and the alleged illegal levies.
The suspect was said to have retreated from the site following the resistance but later returned with other members of the outlawed group and attempted to effect further arrests.
This led to a confrontation between the two groups, resulting in panic and tension across the mining site.
During the clash, two miners were killed while five others sustained injuries.
Security forces were immediately deployed to the scene after receiving the report.
The injured victims were taken for medical treatment, while investigations have commenced to identify and apprehend those responsible.
No arrest had been made as of the time of filing the report.
Two miners killed, five injured in clash at Zamfara mining site
Army troops neutralise 45 bandits in Katsina, including top bandit leader Kachallah Alti
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Nigerian Army have neutralised 45 suspected bandits during a fierce encounter in Danmusa Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Security sources said the operation followed credible intelligence on the movement of bandits suspected to be operating across parts of Katsina and neighbouring Zamfara.
Among those killed during the operation were two top bandit leaders identified as Alti, said to be a nephew and second-in-command to notorious bandit kingpin Adamu Alieru, and another commander known as Damale.
The sources said the confrontation occurred after bandits riding on motorcycles and armed with sophisticated weapons attacked Alhazawa village in Musawa Local Government Area on March 5, rustling cattle from residents.
Community members and some repentant bandits in the area reportedly resisted the attack, killing four of the bandits and recovering the stolen cattle, which were returned to their owners.
However, the bandits were said to have regrouped and returned in larger numbers on March 6, allegedly to launch a reprisal attack.
While moving toward Musawa through Maidabino A Ward, the bandits encountered troops deployed at the Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Dan Ali, Danmusa LGA.
This led to a fierce gun battle during which troops overpowered the criminals and neutralised 45 of them.
However, the operation recorded casualties on the side of the military as three soldiers were killed during the encounter.
Further checks indicated that Alti had recently assumed a more active operational role within the bandit network after the death of his brother, Kachalla Dan Isihu, who was previously killed by security forces during counter-banditry operations.
Alti was said to have coordinated several violent attacks across communities, particularly along the Danjibga axis in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara.
Security sources said troops had intensified operations in the area to track down other fleeing bandits and dismantle their networks.
Army troops neutralise 45 bandits in Katsina, including top bandit leader Kachallah Alti
VP Shettima To Insurgents: We Will Not Be Cowed By Attempts To Undermine Our Collective Peace
Two miners killed, five injured in clash at Zamfara mining site
Army troops neutralise 45 bandits in Katsina, including top bandit leader Kachallah Alti
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