By Saint
On the 1st of April, 2023, a busy Saturday in the University of Ibadan, the Intellectual Property and Technology Law Club, UI (IPTLC) hosted famous writer and publisher Lola Shoneyin, popular skit-maker Layi Wasabi, IP lawyer Onyinye Odita, finalist at Voice Nigeria Inioluwa, and photographer Faith Adeoye during the club’s event themed, Art Nexus.
Busola Bakinson, a Senior Associate at Olaniwun Ajayi LP and the firm’s Intellectual Property Team Lead, gave the keynote address on the topic, Solving the Problems Creatives Face Today. In her address, she identified knowledge gap, lack of awareness, problem of right enforcement and lack of financial resources as some of the challenges Nigerian creatives face.
Speaking on IP protection, especially during product launch, she advised that product owners should “sell the cookie not the recipe to investors”. This she explained to be talking about the benefits of the product and not it creative process. According to her, many creatives jeopardize their IP protection by being indiscrete with information on the creation of their product and they end up exposing their trade secrets.
During the panelist session, Lola Shoneyin discussed how she did not give enough thought to IP protection during the production of her manuscript for her first novel, The Secret Lives of Baba Shegi’s Wives. She however commented on the extent to which the internet as eased IP protection through the indication of time stamps as evidence to prove the original publication of any work on the internet.
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| Lola Shoneyin, joining virtually during the panelist session |
Layi Wasabi spoke on the importance of uniqueness in making content in the entertainment industry. For him, relatability has been the ideal he holds on to in making funny skits. However, replying to a question on how he is able to make banger skits, he said, “I don’t think that all my skits are bangers because if you are capable of genius, you are also capable of rubbish.” He further elaborated on the importance of reading books, observing nuances and subtleties that writers are able to capture and transforming them into entertainment art.
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| Layi Wasabi speaking during the Panelist session |
Onyinye Odita, an associate at PUNUKA Attorneys & Solicitors, and content writer, who was also on the panel remarked on the need for creatives in Nigeria to realise that IP is an asset and a source of wealth creation.
According to the President of IPTLC, UI, Olamilekan Adebanjo, a final year law student and a member of ZIk hall’s Judicial Council, Art Nexus is the first edition of the Nexus series which will in the future feature nexuses with other disciplines like tech. The event saw an attendance of UI students in their hundreds, some who weighed in their thoughts on the programme.
Elizabeth, a participant, said, “I had a great time. I have known a little bit about IP before but I will say I learnt some new things. I was able to hear from a comedian, a musician, a legal practitioner, and a writer. The comedian said something about relatability and there was mostly this talk on what is that thing about you that you can call different, that thing you can put out there and people will be able to say okay this is your unique selling point. They really hammered on that.”
Precious, another participant, stated that the event was beyond her expectation. in her words, “I liked how the panel session went. I liked all the guests that were invited, and I loved learning from their insight. It was very insightful.” When asked about possible improvements on the event, she added, “I was telling someone while I was coming about the publicity, it was quite low. If not for a friend I overheard telling someone about it I wouldn’t have known. So, I think they should work more on the publicity and maybe get a bigger venue.”
Asked about the importance of the event to students, James, another participant said, “we have talents and that is the fulcrum of intellectual property, that our creativity, inventions and innovations are assets to us, form a crucial part of our lives and we can leave behind at the end of life. As students we must be aware that our works are personal to us and some benefits should accrue to us from other people enjoying the use of our works.”
Speaking with a ZHPO correspondent, the IPTLC President shared his thoughts on what Art Nexus means to student creatives. “Arts Nexus is, in the words of a mentor and friend, the perfect midpoint where intellectual property and artistic creativity meet for a cup of coffee. Our aim is to make sure that midpoint is less elusive for the people that it matters the most to — student creatives. With Art Nexus, young creatives can understand the best legal ways to commercially exploit their works, avoid infringing on the IP assets of others and also protect their own creativity from theft.”
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| Olamilekan Adebanjo, IPTLC, UI President |
Also, when asked aout ways in which the ‘nexus’ series will increase the enegagement of creatives, he said, “Like we’ve reiterated, the Art Nexus is the first in a series of Nexus events. The plan is that, moving forward, our Nexus events will become more niched and industry-specific. So, instead of a general Art Nexus, you can look forward to a Music Nexus, the Nollywood Nexus, Tech Nexus, etc.”
“I think the result of this new series will be to draw creatives from the nook and cranies of the University of Ibadan while arming them with the industry knowledge needed for their impending breakthrough moment. Alongside our flagship programme, the Nigerian Creatives Conference, our Nexus events, will seek to create a connection between student creatives or innovators and established experts in the country. Much work will go into bringing well-established entertainers to campus, not to perform but to share their experiences and mentor upcoming folk from a closer distance.”
