Engaging with the Nigerian Bar Association - International Trademark Association

INTA’s Representative for Africa and the Middle East, Tat-Tienne Louembe, recently met in New York City, New York, with a delegation of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), led by its General Secretary, Olagunju Isiaka Abiola.

With a membership of over 105,406 lawyers active in 125 Branches across the 36 states, the NBA is a professional, non-profit, umbrella association whose members are lawyers. The NBA promotes and advances quality and functional legal education, continuing legal education, advocacy, and progressive jurisprudence.

After providing an introduction to INTA and its mission and advocacy worldwide, including in Nigeria, Mr. Louembe underscored the importance of IP and trademarks as catalysts for strong economic growth. Furthermore, the two entities discussed the recent efforts of Nigerian authorities to revamp intellectual property legislation in order to equip the country with a comprehensive law relating to trademarks. Overhauling the current IP system would be a major step in the right direction and would be viewed as a positive development by brand owners, IP practitioners, and local entrepreneurs.

Mr. Louembe and Mr. Olagunju also agreed to move swiftly on the organization of a joint workshop for judges, which is expected to take place next year in Nigeria. The workshop will present a prime opportunity to engage with various stakeholders involved in the promotion and enforcement of IP rights. INTA’s first Judges Workshop on Trademarks took place in San Jose, Costa Rica, on November 28, 2016.

INTA believes that providing judges, prosecutors, and professionals involved at different levels of trademark proceedings with information, resources, and international comparisons on best practices will foster awareness and understanding of IP issues.

The General Secretary seized this opportunity to extend an invitation to INTA to attend the NBA’s upcoming congress, scheduled to take place in August 2018 in Nigeria.

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