INTA Addresses Essential IP Issues at Examiners Training in Nigeria

With the support of local and international members,
INTA conducted a training for trademark examiners at the Trademark Office in Abuja, Nigeria, April 9‒10, which provided registry staff with the opportunity to broaden their scope of knowledge on current intellectual property (IP) issues. Participants praised the workshop for encouraging knowledge-sharing and accelerating the Trademark Office’s improvement of its operational procedures.

During the two-day workshop, participants learned about INTA’s mission and activities around the world, as well as essential IP topics-including international best practices in trademark oppositions and cancellations, operational procedures, IP treaties, and brand restrictions. INTA presenters highlighted IP and trademark practice in the context of free trade agreements, focusing specifically on the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.

Concurrant with the workshop, Tat-Tienne Louembe, INTA Representative Africa, Middle East, and Intergovernmental Organizations, met with Edet Sunday Akpan, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Industry, to brief the Permanent Secretary on the progress of the workshop and addressed possible next steps for collaboration.

Mr. Louembe also visited the Nigerian Customs Services, where he met with the Deputy Comptroller General and Head of IPR Unit, Mohammed Babandede, to thank him for participating in INTA’s Europe Conference held in Paris, France, in February.

Mr. Louembe, along with the Registrar of Trademarks Shafiu Yauri, later met with the new Director General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), John Asen. Their discussions covered future cooperation between INTA and NCC, and INTA’s upcoming 2019 Annual Meeting, which will take place May 18-22 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

INTA extends its thanks to the Project Team: Laide Adeyemo (Jackson, Etti & Edu, Nigeria), Simon Brown (Adams & Adams, South Africa), Uche Nwokocha (Aluko & Oyebode, Nigeria), Roseline Okpete (Allan&Ogunkeye, Nigeria), Davidson Oturu (AELEX, Nigeria), and Kelly Thompson (Adams & Adams, South Africa).

INTA Representative Tat-Tienne Louembe supports the Association’s 437 members across Africa and the Middle East. In collaboration with the staff at INTA’s headquarters in New York City and Representatives Offices around the world, Mr. Louembe works on the Association’s policy, membership, marketing, and communications initiatives in these regions. To learn more about INTA’s activities in Africa and the Middle East, please contact Tat-Tienne Louembe at [email protected]

Although every effort has been made to verify the accuracy of items in the INTA Bulletin, readers are urged to check independently on matters of specific concern or interest.