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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
NEDC Deploys ₦3bn Ophthalmic Equipment, Begins Training at Maiduguri Eye Hospital
By: Michael Mike
The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has commenced a two-week Ophthalmology Equipment Set-Up and Training Programme at the Maiduguri Eye Hospital in Borno State, following the deployment of advanced eye-care equipment valued at over N3 billion.
The programme, which began on Monday, marks a major step in the Commission’s efforts to improve specialist healthcare delivery and address preventable blindness across the North-East region.
Activities on the first day included the installation, calibration, and coupling of cutting-edge ophthalmic equipment, alongside the start of hands-on technical and clinical training sessions. The exercise is aimed at ensuring the newly supplied equipment is fully operational and optimally configured for effective eye-care services.
The training is being led by Prof. Abdull Mohammed Mahdi, a Chief Consultant in Ophthalmology, with support from Dr. Abuh Sunday, also a Chief Consultant, and a multidisciplinary team of experts in ophthalmology and biomedical engineering.
Participants include consultant ophthalmologists, resident doctors, ophthalmic nurses, optometrists, and biomedical engineers from the Maiduguri Eye Hospital and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH). They will receive intensive practical training on the operation, maintenance, and efficient use of the equipment.
According to the NEDC, the initiative is expected to significantly enhance the hospital’s diagnostic and surgical capacity, particularly in the management of cataract and glaucoma cases. The Commission noted that the intervention aligns with its long-term objective of transforming Maiduguri Eye Hospital into a regional centre of excellence for ophthalmic care.
In addition to the equipment deployment and training, the Commission is undertaking extensive renovation and infrastructure upgrades at the hospital to support modern clinical operations and improve patient experience.
The NEDC is also extending similar ophthalmic interventions across other states in the North-East. Of note is the ongoing construction of an ultra-modern Eye Institute at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) in Bauchi, which commenced last year and is scheduled for accelerated implementation this year.
Officials of the Commission described the intervention as a strategic investment that combines modern medical infrastructure with deliberate human capacity development, noting that the ₦3 billion equipment deployment and training programme will have a lasting impact on access to quality eye-care services in the region.
NEDC Deploys ₦3bn Ophthalmic Equipment, Begins Training at Maiduguri Eye Hospital
NSCDC personnel, 16 others arrested in raid of criminal hideout in Yobe
By: Zagazola Makama
Security operatives in Yobe State have raided a notorious criminal hideout in the Saman Tudu area of Pompomari District, Damaturu, arresting a personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and 16 other suspects.
A reliable source told Zagazola Makama that the raid was carried out on Jan. 18 at about 7:20 p.m. following a coordinated, intelligence-driven operation targeting criminal elements who use the area as a haven.
The source said the enclave served as a convergence point for trafficking and consumption of illicit drugs, as well as planning and execution of various criminal activities within the community.
“During the operation, the team stormed and ransacked the hideout, leading to the arrest of 17 suspects, including one Mohammed B. Kolo, identified as an NSCDC personnel attached to the Yobe State Command,” the source said.
He added that exhibits recovered from the scene included a knife, five bicycles, dried leaves suspected to be cannabis sativa, hemp wrapping papers, a long sack used as a mat and the sum of N8,500 found inside a sack suspected to contain the drugs.
The suspects are currently in custody while investigation is ongoing to determine their level of involvement in criminal activities.
The source said those found culpable would be charged to court for prosecution after the conclusion of investigations.
Residents were urged to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information to sustain the fight against crime in the state.
NSCDC personnel, 16 others arrested in raid of criminal hideout in Yobe
Chadian security forces recover cache of arms, arrest suspects in N’Djamena
By: Zagazola Makama
Chadian security forces on Sunday recovered a large cache of weapons and ammunition during a joint search operation in parts of the capital, N’Djamena, as part of intensified efforts to combat insecurity.
Sources Zagazola Makama that the operation was carried out in the 10th arrondissement and parts of the 2nd arrondissement of the city.
According to the sources, the joint team of internal security forces seized 28 pistols, 14 other firearms, and more than 1,000 rounds of assorted ammunition during the raid.
They also recovered military equipment and six vehicles suspected to be linked to criminal activities.
“Two gun owners were arrested during the operation and are currently in custody for further investigation,” a senior security official said.
He explained that the exercise was conducted under the supervision of top security authorities and formed part of broader measures to dismantle criminal networks and curb the proliferation of illegal arms in the capital.
The official added that the recovery of the weapons had significantly disrupted the operations of armed groups and criminal elements in the affected districts.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Chadian security services to sustaining pressure on all groups involved in arms trafficking, banditry and other threats to public safety.
“The security forces will continue intelligence-led operations to ensure the safety of lives and property across the country,” he said.
Chadian security forces recover cache of arms, arrest suspects in N’Djamena
Gunmen attack churches, abduct unspecified number of worshippers in Kajuru, Kaduna
NEDC Deploys ₦3bn Ophthalmic Equipment, Begins Training at Maiduguri Eye Hospital
NSCDC personnel, 16 others arrested in raid of criminal hideout in Yobe
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