IVLP: U.S. hosts creators, intellectual property policymakers from Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria
As creative industries develop across Africa, stronger intellectual property protection and enforcement frameworks are key to ensuring their continued growth. The U.S. Department of State, in collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), hosted eight participants from Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria June 22 to July 3 through an International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) to promote creative industry growth and support more robust intellectual property protection and enforcement in Africa.
Participants from Nigeria included Obi Asika, Director General/Chief Executive Officer of the National Council for Arts & Culture; Co-founder of InkBlot Productions Zulu Oyibo; and Talent & Business Manager, YBNL Nation Entertainment, Alexander Okeke. Participants traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with U.S. policymakers and industry associations; Los Angeles to meet with industry leaders and professional guilds; and Atlanta to meet with production studios and local government.
Strong intellectual property protection and enforcement frameworks assure creative artists, inventors, industrial designers, and other rights holders that their works will be protected and that they will receive compensation for the use of their creations. Innovation, supported by a strong intellectual property protection and enforcement framework, can create and sustain jobs, generate higher wages across multiple integrated industries, and significantly grow an economy.
The IVLP visit builds upon the U.S. Department of State’s efforts since the 2022 U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit to support the growth of Africa’s creative economy. Since the 2022 U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, the Department has hosted four creative ecosystem roundtables in Africa in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria to foster discussion on the importance of the creative industries and the support stronger intellectual property frameworks can provide. UNESCO, which published the first complete mapping of Africa’s film and audiovisual industries in 2021, supported the events. The State Department also partnered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to host a fifth creative industry roundtable in Egypt in June.
The implementing partner for this IVLP was the Meridian International Center. For press inquiries, contact the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at ECA-Press@state.gov.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
Heading 1
Reps begin review of state police bill
“The House and the Senate are working in tandem with each other to make sure that the significant amendments are achieved,” he said.
Economy
Nigeria’s $40 billion net foreign reserves validate Tinubu’s economic reforms: TSF
“The increase from about $3 billion to more than $40 billion within three years, therefore, represents a substantial strengthening of Nigeria’s financial buffers,” the group said.
Heading 4
Andy Burnham takes over as UK’s prime minister, vows to end homelessness
“On my first day as Prime Minister, I’m announcing this government’s commitment to finally end long-term rough sleeping across the UK at the earliest opportunity,” he said.
Hot news Home top
Who’s NBA president-elect Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya?
Ms Badejo-Okusanya emerged as the 33rd president-elect of the NBA after polling 12,317 votes in the election.
NationWide
FG, UNESCO partner on mobile learning for teachers
“The initiative leverages mobile technology to overcome barriers such as time constraints, geographical limitations and inadequate infrastructure,” the ministry said.
Economy
OPay leads Nigeria’s fight against digital fraud
Elizabeth Wang, chief commercial officer of OPay, noted that technology should not only make payments easier but also make financial services more trusted and more inclusive.
