The Intellectual Property Institute has called on the organised financial sector in Nigeria to recognise and accept intellectual property as collateral for granting loans to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

This was the main thrust of a symposium marking this year’s edition of the World Intellectual Property Day with the theme: ‘IP and SMEs: Taking Your Ideas to Market.’

The virtual event was attended by stakeholders in the creative industry, intellectual property professionals, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders.

The event was supported by Trumann Rockwood Solicitors, Borrow To Own Concepts Limited, (Abuja’s No. 1 pay-small-small retail company, Caya Productions (an award-winning boutique audio post-production & recording studio in Wuse 2, Abuja) and ProEdge Events.

The Institute identified lack of awareness and regulatory bottlenecks among factors impeding the acceptance and marketability of intellectual assets in Nigeria.

The institute said owners of intellectual properties in the creative and other industries are major contributors to the growth of Nigeria’s economic.

It also warned that “Nigerian businesses would continue to lose out on opportunities for technology transfer and collaborations if the regulatory bottlenecks impeding the marketability and commercialisation of intellectual assets and new technology are not addressed.”

The speakers at the event include former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association Abuja and an IP Lawyer, Mr. Folarin Aluko, Founder and Head, Engineer at Caya Productions, Melissa Ibrahim and the Lead Talent Manager at Hyers Elite Athletes & Talents (HEAT) Limited, Mr. Basorun Aderoju.

By Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

Pensioners under the aegis of the Federal Civil Service Pensioners (FCSP) – a breakaway faction of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) have trade words over check-off dues accrued from the payment of pension arrears.

While the FCSP in a letter sent to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, asking him to stop the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) from paying the check-up dues to its rival union, the NUP said members of FCSP had no locus standi any longer to speak for federal civil service.

PTAD recently released N70 million to the pensioners which is one per cent of the N70 billion check-off dues accruing from the payment of pension arrears.

Already, FCSP has concluded plans to set up a committee to carry out the registration of the union as an independent body.

National Chairman of FCSP, Omeiza Sunday said that the protracted impasse between his group and the NUP was occasioned by the blatant refusal of the National Headquarters of the NUP to give the union commensurate allocation of the 55 per cent share of the one per cent Check-off Dues accruable to the Federal Civil Service Pensioners Branch (FCSPB).

Sunday explained that the Police Pension Department under PTAD, Customs, Immigration and Prisons Department, Parastatals Pension Department, and all the 36 councils of the union which are affiliates under the NUP umbrella collect their check-off dues directly from the source of payment.

“But the case is not the same with the Federal Civil Service Pensioners. This exceptional act of deprivation of the rights and privileges of the Branch calls for curious concern.”

But the NUP, through its spokesperson, Bunmi Ogunkolade, described members of FCSP as “disgruntled few elements” who are seeking attention because they lost out during the power-play before the dissolution of past executive members.

Nigeria’s leading dairy brand, Hollandia, is set to hold the maiden edition of its Hollandia Dairy Day. The event which will be celebrated on the 18th of May 2021 will provide a veritable platform to drive national discourse on the unrivaled health and nutrition benefits of dairy consumption to people of all ages.

The proposed conference tagged, ‘Dairy Nourishment to Support Healthy Living,’ and it focuses on the vital role dairy consumption plays in our everyday nourishment, its benefit to our overall health, and why dairy products should be included in our diets every day.

This conference, which is designed as a hybrid of physical and virtual event, will feature presentations, interviews and panel discussions from health experts and nutritionists as they provide insights and share perspectives to guide informed decisions about dairy consumption as part of a daily balanced diet. The event is opened to the public through the brand’s multiple social media platforms.

By Samson Oti

UAC Foods Limited, makers of Gala, has announced the launch of two new variants of its well-loved beef sausage roll – Gala Spicy and Gala Classic. The new product variants, which come in a bigger 100gram size, have been carefully formulated to enrich the Nigerian snacking experience, on the go.

These new variants are crafted to deliver more value, the new Gala Spicy and Gala Classic variants come in a bigger size, offering more spice and beef filling at N100 only.

For existing and new beef roll fans, the all-time Nigerian favourite snack launches its Gala Spicy and Classic variants at N100. The Gala Spicy sausage roll is enhanced with extra flavour and spice (pepper) to match Nigerians’ love for delicious spicy food and snacks.

Dele Ajayi, Managing Director of UAC Foods Ltd, commenting on the product launch, said “UAC Foods Limited has been a partner to the Nigerian diet for over fifty years, offering nutritional products that enrich the Nigerian lifestyle.

LASACO Assurance has unveiled Nigerian international super model and former ‘Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria’, Miss Omowunmi Akinnifesi as its new brand ambassador.

In his opening remarks during a press conference to unveil the new ambassador in Lagos, the Deputy Managing Director, Corporate Services, Mr. Rilwan Oshinusi spoke briefly about the history of the company.

Speaking on the decision of the company to engage Omowunmi as the new brand ambassador, Mr. Oshinusi said the decision was made based on Omowunmi’s representation. “Our decision to engage Miss. Omowunmi Akinnifesi as a brand ambassador and use her expertise was informed by her representation. The goodwill of Lasaco has already been great and by having Omowunmi on board, we hope that our brand will remain and get bigger.”

In her response, the new ambassador said she believes she shares the same values with the company. “I’m really excited to be the new corporate brand ambassador of Lasaco because it is one of the organisations I believe I share the same values with. Insurance is something that we often take for granted in this part of the world and I believe that the time has come for everyone to start taking insurance seriously. This is the visibility I intend to bring into this partnership.”

The Chairman of the company, Mrs Teju Phillips said she is delighted to have the new brand ambassador.

By Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf

The organised labour and the federal government may be on a collision course over the fresh salary cut being proposed by the latter across all sectors, The Nation has learnt.

It may be recalled that the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, had hinted that the Federal Government was working to reduce the high cost of governance by cutting down on the salaries of workers.

The Minister was reported to have said this in Abuja at a policy dialogue on corruption and cost of governance in Nigeria organised by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission. The Minister of Finance was also reported to have directed the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) to immediately review the salaries of civil servants as well as the number of federal agencies in the country.

Reacting to the minister, in a statement by the President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba, he described as scandalous moves by the government to cut down salaries, saying it smacked of insensitivity and lack of empathy for the masses.

In the statement which reads in part, the NLC boss said, “It is most unthinkable that government would be contemplating to unilaterally slash the salaries of Nigerian workers at this time. The question to ask is “which salary is government planning to slash?” It certainly cannot be the meagre national minimum wage of N30000 which right now cannot even buy a bag of rice! The proposed slash in salaries is certainly not targeted at the minimum wage and consequential adjustment in salaries that some callous state governors are still dragging their feet to pay.”

Pressed further, Wabba said, “It is public knowledge that the multiple devaluation of the Naira in a very short time and the prevailing high inflation rate in Nigeria has knocked out the salaries earned by Nigerian workers across board. Nigerian workers are only surviving by hair’s breadth. Indeed, Nigerian workers are miracles strutting on two legs. It is, therefore, extremely horrendous for a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to pronounce salary slash for Nigerian workers at this time.”

The NLC boss further reiterated that, “This call for salary slash by Mrs. Zainab Ahmed is tantamount to a “mass suicide” wish for Nigerian workers. It is most uncharitable, most insensitive, most dehumanizing and most barbaric. Nigerian workers demand an immediate retraction and apology by the Minister of Finance.”

He therefore impressed on President Muhammadu Buhari the need to call the Minister of Finance to order. “If there is any salary that needs serious slashing it is the humungous remuneration and allowances pocketed by political office holders in Nigeria who do very little but collect so much.”

While making a case for the workers, Wabba said, “Workers generate surplus value and revenue for government. We do not constitute any unnecessary cost or burden to governance! It is also important to make the point that salaries are products of contracts governed by laws. They cannot be unilaterally adjusted.”

Many countries of the world, he stressed, “Are increasing the salaries of their workforce, extending social security coverage for their citizens and providing all forms of palliatives to help their people through the terrible socioeconomic dislocations occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, it would be completely absurd for the Nigerian government to be thinking of salary slash. This move is not only at great odds with global best responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is also in violation of relevant ILO Conventions and Declarations on Wages and Decent Work.”