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Court Decides NUC, AIRTEL Fate May 4

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Federal High Courts
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By Gowon Emakpe, Abuja

Justice Inyang Ekwo of Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja will on May 4, 2020, decide whether both the National Universities Commission (NUC) and a Telecom firm, ZAIN Nigeria Ltd (now Airtel) are culpable in the alleged copy right infringement brought against them by one Christian Ojorovwu Ogodo.

In the suit Managing Director, Mr.

Christian Ojorovwu Ogodo, the plaintiff claimed to have developed an educational TV production quiz program, Nigeria Universities Challenge.

He said his rights over the said TV program were registered with the Nigerian Copyright Commission and subsequently donated to the Plaintiff via a Power of Attorney.

According to him thereafter made a proposal to the NUC for the endorsement of the program and for collaboration in the production of same to be broadcast on Nigerian Television Stations.

He was however surprised to find out that after about four weeks of writing to seek the endorsement and collaboration of the Commission, the NUC approved a similar proposal in favour of one Natives Filmworks Ltd.  This he said necessitated the legal action to seek redress over the infringement of the Plaintiff’s copyright in the earlier work submitted to the NUC for approval.

The Plaintiff’s case against the 2nd defendant is that the 2nd defendant developed a similar program, Zain African Challenge which is similar to Plaintiff’s Universities Challenge in all material particulars.

If found guilty, the court would further have to determine whether the plaintiff is entitled to the sum of over N1bn being sought as compensation for the loss or damage suffered as a result of the alleged infringement of his copyright, “Nigeria Universities Challenge”, by the two respondents.

Justice Ekwo fixed the date for judgment last Thursday, February 6 shortly after parties adopted their final written addresses as their brief of arguments in the case.

The plaintiff, TV Xtra Production limited had in 2008, instituted legal action against both the NUC and ZAIN Nigeria Ltd, over the alleged usage without his permission of his intellectual property.

In the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/680/2008, the plaintiff is asking the court to hold that the approval by the NUC of the program called “Zain African Challenge” in favour of Zain Nigeria Ltd, is an infringement of his copyright in respect of the said programme.

The 1st defendant endorsed same in favour of the 2nd defendant, which Plaintiff now argues that both actions of the defendants infringed the Plaintiff’s protected intellectual property work, Nigeria Universities Challenge.

While NUC did not file any form of defense to the Plaintiff’s suit, and it is deemed not to have opposed the Plaintiff’s suit as presently constituted, ZAIN Nigeria Ltd on the other hand submitted that Zain African Challenge is not an infringement of the Plaintiff’s Nigeria

Universities Challenge quiz program.

The firm in admitting that the said Zain African Challenge was fashioned after ‘University Challenge’ argued that the Plaintiff is not the original owner of the said University Challenge.

It claimed in its defense that the said University Challenge was published in Britain and the intellectual property of the British University Challenge.

But the firm did not lead any evidence in respect of any other registration of University Challenge in Nigeria apart from the one registered by the Plaintiff; and did not also tender the alleged Zain African Challenge nor lead evidence to show the format and in what material parts it differed from the Plaintiff’s Nigeria Universities Challenge.

Part of the reliefs sought by the plaintiff include; an Order compelling the 1st defendant, whether by themselves, or officers, agents, servants, privies, or otherwise howsoever to endorse and approve the programme called “University Challenge” in favour of the plaintiff.

“An Order of perpetual injunction restraining the 2nd defendant whether by themselves, or officers, agents, servants, privies, or otherwise howsoever from producing, airing, marketing or exercising any right in respect of the programme called “Zain African Challenge”.

“An Order of perpetual injunction restraining the 1st defendant whether by itself, or officers, agents, servants, privies, or otherwise howsoever from approving or registering any other programme similar to University Challenge or which will infringe on the copyright of the Plaintiff over the said programme.

“An Order compelling the defendants jointly and severally to pay the Plaintiff the sum of N500, 000,000.00 (Five Hundred Million Naira) as special damages for the infringement of the Plaintiff’s Copyright.

“An Order compelling the 2nd defendant to pay the Plaintiff the sum of N200,000,000.00 (Two Hundred Million Naira) as general damages for airing the programme titled “Zain African Challenge” in Nigerian televisions which infringed on the right of the Plaintiff.

“AN ORDER compelling the Defendants jointly and severally to pay the

Plaintiff the sum of N3, 000,000.00 (Three Million Naira) being the cost of this action.

Education

FG to Develop Data on all Schools to Address Challenges in Education

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The Federal Government says it will sign a partnership contract with an ICT firm to generate data on all schools in Nigeria in order to tackle challenges in the sector.

The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman disclosed this in Abuja on Monday at a two-day capacity building workshop for Desk Officers in the ministry, its Departments and Agencies.

Reports says the capacity building workshop focuses on the implementation, collation, harmonisation and reportage of ministerial deliverables.

“It is our plan that by end of this year or early next year, we will be signing a partnership contract with a firm that will be working with our IT people to generate data on all schools in Nigeria.

“This is because we need to know our teachers, and every single student, we need data to know the trend of learning, our school infrastructure.

“This exercise will enhance decision making and policy formulation as the data collected and collated will aid evidence based planning, measure implementation and progress and identify areas where improvement is required,’’  he said.

Mamman added that data would help to advise the state governments on the right policy to make that would affect the schools positively.

He charged heads of MDAs, desk officers and other participants to tailor their programmes, activities and projects towards the realisation of the deliverables.

“The uppermost focus of the Ministry in general is in the areas of ensuring generation of credible, timely and reliable education data at all levels; and promotion of skills development.

“It is also in the enhancement of skill development across the entire education landscape for innovative and employability education; teachers training and development; and reducing the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria.

“I believe if we get it right in education, everything else will fall in place.

“The doctors who man our hospitals, the nurses who delivers the vaccines, the engineering in charge of our construction works, everybody is the bye-product of our activities,’’ he said.

The minister commended the government of Kaduna state and the security organisations for helping in the release of the 287 abducted school children in the state.

The Senior Education Officer, Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) , Ian Attfield, pledged to support government in actualising the deliverables and as well support in addressing learning crisis through continuing education financing.

It will be recalled that President Bola Tinubu in his Renewed Hope Agenda for the education sector signed a 23 Ministerial Deliverables and the 13 Pillars of the Education Sector Roadmap 2024-2027.

The deliverables are: strengthening research and innovation in education sector, reviewing the status of technical and vocational education board, strengthening the education management information system, among others .(NAN)

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Education

Sen. Buba Pays UTME Fees for 350 Science Students in His Constituency

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JAMB
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Sen. Shehu Buba, representing Bauchi South at the Senate, has paid 2023/2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) fees for no fewer than 350 Science students in his constituency.

Mr Mohammed Dahiru, the Senator’s Programmes Supervisor, said in Bauchi on Monday, that in addition, all the beneficiaries will also be sponsored by the Senator in any university of their choice within the country.

Dahiru added that the Senator urged the beneficiaries to be more serious and read well in order to pass their exams.

Some students who are the beneficiaries of the gesture commended Sen. Buba for paying their fees.

They told newsmen in Bauchi, that the gesture had relieved their parents of the burden to pay for their UTME fees as they kept struggling to put food on their tables.

Jabir Khalid, one of the beneficiaries admitted that his parents couldn’t pay his examination fees because they had no money.

He extended his gratitude to the senator, adding that Buba also organised UTME lessons for them so that they could pass the examinations.  

“Sen. Buba came to my rescue and paid for me and many other students. And I shall be writing my exam on April 19,” he said.

Similarly, another beneficiary, Khadija Hassan, who was elated by the gesture, said her parents tried and paid for the first UTME she wrote but couldn’t raise money for this second one.

“I want to call on the senator to continue with his good deeds,” she said.

Also, Abubakar Ibrahim, commended  the senator for paying for their UTME fees in this difficult time when things are hard especially for the poor masses.

 “Some politicians don’t care about people’s education, not minding if you can afford to go to school or not.

“However, Senator Buba has shown us that he cares about our education to the extent of paying our UTME fees and I am among the lucky beneficiaries.”

“I also wrote the JAMB mock examination which I passed. The main examination will be held on the April 19,” he said. (NAN)

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Education

Education is Dying in Nigeria, People no Longer Read Books – Arogbofa

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Basorun Seinde Arogbofa, a leader of the Yoruba Sociocultural Groups, Afenifere, says education is dying in the country because people no longer read to improve their knowledge.

Arogbofa said this on Saturday in Akure on the occasion of his 85th birthday and public presentation of his new book, “The Psychology of Growing Old: A Personal Experience for both Old and Young”.

The Afenifere stalwart, while addressing the people present at the event, noted that education would die without books.

Arogbofa observed that the book publishing industry was also dying, mentioning some of the renowned publishing companies that had gone into extinction.

“Education is dying.

I know we have modern technology like this and that, but we can’t begin all this without writing; without producing the books, and we are not producing. Where do we go?

“This is a challenge for us in education. And of course, without books, we can’t move ahead.

“I’m aware that some will write in their bedroom or publish in the kitchen, and nobody, no editor will know what they have written, and they will go in front of their house to start selling the books.

“The next thing is that we find them in the hands of our students. And that is where education is going,” he said.

Arogbofa appealed to the state government and all stakeholders to see how to revive the reading culture in the country.

Speaking at the event, Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State congratulated Arogbofa on the occasion of his 85th birthday.

Aiyedatiwa, represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr Segun Omojuwa, saluted Arogbofa’s courage, mental alertness and scholarly exposition which he said were visibly demonstrated in the new book.

The governor said the occasion was not just for the presentation another book by one of the most versatile authors, but for celebrating hard work, focus and resilience of an icon who had served the Yoruba nation and Nigeria.

“It gives me great honour to be present at this auspicious occasion of the public presentation of the latest book of our revered elder statesman, Basorun Seinde Arogbofa, OFR.

“Let me first of all congratulate baba on his 85th birthday anniversary. Four scores and five years are no mean feat. It has undoubtedly been by the benevolence of the Almighty.

“This is even more outstanding and commendable when one takes into consideration his age.

“Baba is an exemplary leader and elder, I admire for his forthrightness, honesty, truthfulness and for always standing for a just cause.

“We hope to continually tap from your knowledge and wealth of experience,” he said.

Also speaking on the sideline of the event, former Governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko, said government needed to do more in terms of social security for elderly.

“As part of social security plan, we must take care of our old ones, especially the healthcare, there must be a healthcare security mechanism to take care of our old ones,” he said.

A former Governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau, identified inadequate funding and population challenge as the bane of education in the country.

Shekarau said that the rate of population growth has outgrown the planning and funding of the available facilities.

“I and those before us, the maximum in a class was 30, 40. I remember in the 80s, my government decided to make maximum in a class 50, but today, we have 100,150,” he said.

Shekarau later said all these were not beyond what the government could still address.

Reports says that the book was reviewed by the Ondo State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Kayode Ajulo, SAN.

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