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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
Bandits kill two, abduct woman in Chikun, Kaduna
By: Zagazola Makama
Suspected bandits have killed two persons, injured one and abducted a woman during an attack on Rimi Kamazo community in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Zagazola report that the incident occurred on Dec. 28 at about 11:50 a.m. when an unspecified number of armed bandits invaded the community, firing sporadically and causing panic among residents.
Victims of the attack were identified as Zainab Amos Bagoro, 55, and Aminu Amos Bagoro, 25, who were shot and fatally injured. Another victim, Gayus Amos Bagoro, sustained gunshot injuries and is currently receiving treatment.
The attackers also abducted Justina Abednego, 25, and took her to an unknown destination.
Sources said security operatives received information about the attack at about 2:00 a.m. on Dec. 29 and immediately mobilised to the area in collaboration with other security agencies.
The injured victims were rushed to hospital for medical attention, where the two critically injured persons were confirmed dead, while the surviving victim is receiving treatment at St. Gerald Hospital, Kakuri, Kaduna.
The corpses of the deceased were deposited at the hospital morgue for autopsy.
Security forces have intensified efforts to rescue the abducted woman and track down the perpetrators, while investigations into the incident have commenced.
Bandits kill two, abduct woman in Chikun, Kaduna
Mob sets NSCDC office ablaze, kills three suspects in Kano
By: Zagazola Makama
Atleast three suspected motorcycle thieves were killed by a mob while the office of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) was raised in Dawakin Kudu Local Government Area of the state.
Zagazola Makama learnt that the incident occurred at about 9:00 p.m. on Dec. 28 at the Danmaje Quarters Divisional Office of the NSCDC in Dawakin Kudu.
According to sources , personnel of the NSCDC attached to the office had earlier arrested three suspects over alleged motorcycle theft.
The source said that following the arrest, angry youths armed with dangerous weapons mobilised in large numbers and stormed the NSCDC office, demanding that the suspects be released to them for lynching.
“They overpowered the NSCDC personnel, chased them out of the office and set both the office and the suspects ablaze,” the source said.
Sources said the scene was later visited by security operatives, while the victims were rushed to the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, where they were certified dead by medical personnel.
The corpses were subsequently deposited at the hospital’s morgue.
Mob sets NSCDC office ablaze, kills three suspects in Kano
NESREA Shuts Sunseed Oil Facility in Zaria Over Air Pollution Violations
By: Michael Mike
The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has ordered the closure of the Sunseed Oil processing plant in Zaria, Kaduna State, following findings of severe air pollution linked to the facility’s operations.
NESREA said the action was taken after investigations confirmed that the plant was emitting harmful pollutants into the atmosphere in breach of the National Environmental (Air Quality Control) Regulations.
The regulations require industries to install effective pollution control systems and adopt cleaner production methods to minimize environmental and health risks.
A statement by the agency’s spokesperson, Nwamaka Ejiofor on Tuesday, said the level of emissions from the Sunseed Oil facility posed a direct threat to the surrounding environment and residents in nearby communities, prompting immediate intervention to halt further damage.
She noted that the enforcement exercise reflects the agency’s resolve to ensure that industrial operators comply with environmental standards and to protect the public from the dangers associated with uncontrolled industrial emissions and effluents.
Commenting on the development, the Director-General of NESREA, Prof. Innocent Barikor, warned companies operating across the country to adhere strictly to national environmental laws.
He stressed that the agency would continue to take decisive action against facilities whose operations endanger public health or degrade the environment.
NESREA reiterated its commitment to regular monitoring and enforcement, noting that environmental protection remains a critical component of sustainable development in Nigeria.
NESREA Shuts Sunseed Oil Facility in Zaria Over Air Pollution Violations
Bandits kill two, abduct woman in Chikun, Kaduna
Mob sets NSCDC office ablaze, kills three suspects in Kano
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