The African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO) (www.ARIPO.org), in collaboration with the Intellectual Property Rights&Innovation (AfrIPI) Project, is proud to announce the launch of the ARIPO Intellectual Property Journalists Award competition, in 2024. This initiative, the first of its kind in Africa, is designed to recognise and reward excellence in journalism that enhances public awareness and understanding of intellectual property (IP) rights across the 22 ARIPO Member States.

ARIPO and AfrIPI invite journalists to submit their entries, demonstrating their efforts in raising awareness about IP rights in various media channels. The competition highlights the crucial role of journalists in enlightening the public about the advantages and importance of IP protection. By honouring outstanding journalism, ARIPO and AfrIPI aim to encourage high-quality reportage that shapes positive attitudes towards IP and addresses emerging issues related to IP rights in Africa.

Journalists from the ARIPO Member States are encouraged to submit their print, radio, television, and digital media coverage of IP-related topics through a specially designed online portal (https://apo-opa.co/3SBddR0). A distinguished panel of experts will conduct the judging process, evaluating submissions based on several criteria. These criteria include the ability to simplify complex IP matters for public understanding, effectively exploring the role of IP in everyday life, and establishing connections between IP and current social and business trends.

Submissions should demonstrate a clear understanding of various IP concepts and articulate them in a manner that is understandable to the general public. Judges will be looking for entries that break down intricate IP topics into comprehensible segments, making IP relevant and relatable to a broader audience. Additionally, the exploration of IP’s role in everyday life is essential; entries should depict how IP impacts individuals and communities, highlighting real-life applications and benefits.

Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) play a crucial role in promoting development in Africa. They are key to protecting inventions, innovations, and creative works while boosting economic growth. The continent’s rich and diverse resources offer a vast potential for creativity, and scientific and technological innovation. However, the enforcement of IP rights in Africa faces several challenges, including the need for development agendas and science, technology, and innovation frameworks. Despite these challenges, IPR is an enabler to promote the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Agenda 2063.

ARIPO is an inter-governmental organisation that facilitates cooperation among Member States in intellectual property matters. Its mission is to promote creativity and innovation for the socio-economic growth of its Member States through an effective intellectual property system.

AfrIPI (www.AfrIPI.org/en) is a pan-African project that aims to support the European Union in administering, utilising, protecting and enforcing intellectual property rights across Africa. AfrIPI is aligned with IP rights best practices and supports the African Continental Free Trade Area and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

ARIPO and AfrIPI encourages all eligible journalists to participate in this competition and contribute to the advancement of intellectual property awareness and education across Africa. This initiative not only recognises journalistic excellence but also promotes a deeper understanding of IP rights and their importance in driving progress and development.

The submission period is open from August 5, 2024, to September 14, 2024.

For more information and to submit entries, please visit the ARIPO IP Journalists Award competition portal at https://apo-opa.co/3SBddR0. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO).

About ARIPO:
ARIPO is an intergovernmental organisation that facilitates cooperation among its Member States in intellectual property matters. The Organisation pools resources for the promotion, development, and harmonisation of the IP laws and policies of ARIPO Member States. The objective of ARIPO, amongst others, is to establish common services and bodies for IP rights coordination, development, and harmonisation. The Member States of ARIPO include Botswana, the Kingdom of Eswatini, Cabo Verde, the Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, the Kingdom of Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Discover more about ARIPO at www.ARIPO.org

About AfrIPI:
AfrIPI is a pan-African project that aims to support the European Union in administering, utilising, protecting and enforcing intellectual property rights across Africa. AfrIPI is aligned with IP rights best practices and supports the African Continental Free Trade Area and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

Overall, the AfrIPI project aims to facilitate intra-African trade and African and European investment. The project is funded and directed by the European Union, and co-funded and implemented by the European Union Intellectual Property Office. Read more about AfrIPI at www.AfrIPI.org

Under One Roof (www.UnderOneRoof.co.za), is an entirely new concept set to solve some of the most frustrating problems encountered with other property listing websites. It introduces a homeownership resource-concentrated hub that not only presents properties for rent or sale – which uniquely also assists its clients to complete a transfer to a new owner – but also incorporates offerings that empower homeowners to make well-informed decisions about their lifestyle.

Simultaneously, Under One Roof heralds the entry of a new female real estate CEO, Lynne Krawchuk, who is set to change the traditionally heavily-male dominated property executive clique. Her decades of experience as a marketing professional give Under One Roof the edge when it comes to converting website visitors to loyal clients, putting their needs and wants ahead of merely presenting a search engine of listings.

“We are going to completely change the way properties are showcased,” says Krawchuk. “We will reveal the power of delivering an innovative property ecosystem that will optimise anyone’s property journey, be that the property practitioner or agency, the buyer, seller, or renter.”

Under One Roof is something not yet seen before on existing South African property platforms, where listings and advice remain unsupported by other digital marketing strategies, and which are not catering to the different demographic markets.

“This is likely due to complacency by the dominant few property-listing players who have amassed a following due to their monopoly. As such they have created an uneven playing field that restricts the marketing efforts of, particularly, the small-, micro-, and medium-sized property players who are further compromised by the prevailing challenge of diminishing property prices and weakened purchasing power of consumers,” says Krawchuk.

The key differentiator with Under One Roof is its functionality and pricing plan. Krawchuk explains that all users, be those buyers, sellers, renters, landlords, developers, or property practitioners, are provided with a unique login aligned to their own customised backend dashboard.

“Here they can access in-depth data relevant to individual listed properties, be that municipal charges or alternative power and water solutions. Buyers and renters will be able to download walk-through video’s and monitor listings they are interested in for an easy revisit or comparison.”

Estate agents and private listers will be able to monitor the number of visitors to their listings, update, and edit details, and can avail of either a three- or six-month subscription per listing with a unique twist. “If the property is sold before the subscription expires, the outstanding months of the package can be transferred to another property listing, provided the first property sale is proven. We can even upload listings if that is preferred, at no charge,” explains Krawchuk.

For buyers, especially those who either do not fully comprehend the property purchase journey or are frustrated by the number of steps in the process, Under One Roof offers to source bond origination, bridging finance, rate clearance certificates and assistance with the transfer. “This feature alone responds to an undeniably underserved market, more specifically first-time home buyers and millennials who prefer to engage a full-range service.”

The Under One Roof customer-centric approach is also going to present as a novelty, for while technology may be driving the platform, AI chatbots are not a feature. “Our research indicates that customers prefer having a human respond to online or email queries. We acknowledge that while today’s customers are considered as ‘smart consumers’ who may be familiar with the digital realm, chatbots have no empathy, are unable to solve critical problems, and tend to aggravate users who may have a unique request.” 

As Under One Roof grows, so too will the breadth of the platform. “Beyond the necessary features, we are concentrating on targeted demographics, where demands differ in terms of cultural and locality preferences,” says Krawchuk. “For example, in the future we will be presenting neighbourhood video visits hosted by a typical resident, and guidance manuals and features that highlight lifestyle choices. Commercial and retail properties will also be introduced.

“We believe that Under One Roof is the most intelligent, powerful, transparent, and streamlined real estate game-changer since property listings went online in the late 90s,” emphasises Krawchuk. “The team at Under One Roof is intentional about manifesting change in the market by filling the gaps that have been prevalent for too long. And, while others may think we are a disruptor, we disagree! We prefer to think of ourselves as renegades by challenging the existing, staid, and unadventurous status quo.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Under One Roof.

About Under One Roof:
Under One Roof (www.UnderOneRoof.co.za) is reinventing the property listing experience by delivering a one-to-one personalisation online platform for agents, buyers, sellers, and renters. It has developed a unique South African approach to all thing’s property-focused, including lifestyle, with its presentation of a combination of digital and human interactions. Under One Roof is a compelling property hub that speaks to, and inspires, a new generation of property stakeholders.

Headquarters: Pretoria, South Africa

For more information, please visit our website: www.UnderOneRoof.co.za

Throughout its 14-year history, social enterprise and development institution the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has made tremendous achievements in Africa’s oil and gas industry. With an overarching goal to boost local content in Nigeria to 70% by 2027, the NCDMB has developed over 150 information and communication technology centers in secondary schools across the country, upgraded select technical colleges as part of an institutional strengthening program, revamped dilapidated primary schools and successfully trained a workforce of over 16,000 individuals.

The NCDMB has joined African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energy 2024 – Africa’s premier event for the energy sector, taking place from November 4-8 in Cape Town – as the event’s local content partner. The NCDMB is also a platinum sponsor of the conference, further underscoring its commitment to driving local content development throughout the entire value chain of the African energy sector.

AEW: Invest in African Energy is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event.

Established in 2010 under the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act, the NCDMB has been a driving force behind positive developments in building local capacity within Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. The NCDMB has been active in enhancing strategic partnerships with academia and industry players to develop infrastructure, drive local content strategies and promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics education initiatives. As such, their participation at AEW: Invest in African Energy 2024 underscores the importance of nurturing local talent and business to achieve sustainable growth in the African energy sector.

The NCDMB and Nigerian government agency the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) agreed to collaborate on upgrading basic education in the country while promoting local capacity building to meet the needs of the oil and gas industry and the linkages sector. The agreement was finalized on July 23 during a meeting between NCDMB Executive Secretary Eng. Felix Omatsola Ogbe and UBEC Executive Secretary Dr. Hamid Bobboyi where they discussed upgrading primary and junior secondary schools across the country, training teachers and upgrading critical facilities to meet student needs.

The development institution also hosted a senate committee retreat this week with relevant stakeholders to discuss collaboration and management in growing Nigerian local content in the oil and gas industry. Under a mandate to create a synergy for local content development in the country, the NCDMB sought to examine the improvement of critical assets and emergence of requisite skills to enable indigenous participants to deliver complex projects and lead operations in the sector.

Outside of Nigeria, the NCDMB organized a two-day local content development experience-sharing session in February with a delegation from Mozambique’s national oil company Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetes. The session served to showcase the NCDMB’s commitment to supporting emerging oil and gas producing nations in Africa to develop local content policies as a strategy for improving indigenous participation and value optimization from hydrocarbons and mineral resources.

“Throughout their years of service, the NCDMB has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to fostering local content policies that not only benefit Nigerians but also create opportunities for other Africans. The institution promotes intra-African collaboration and contributes immensely to indigenous participation, local manufacturing and skills development. As champions for inclusivity and the empowerment of local communities, the institution will continue to play an instrumental role in Africa’s oil and gas industry for the long-term,” stated African Energy Chamber Executive Chairman NJ Ayuk.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

“We couldn’t take anything with us,” said Bekaye Djiré, standing on what remains of the home he shared with his brothers, sisters-in-law and their children. Everything they owned was destroyed following torrential rains in Mali’s Ségou Region. 

Djiré and his family were caught off-guard in the middle of the night by rising waters in Bla, their hometown. 

He explained: “We first tried to contain the water with sandbags, but that didn’t work. Eventually the water reached a level where we had no choice but to leave, leaving our belongings behind. I lost everything.”

Between 22 and 25 July, flooding hit central Mali, affecting 9,700 people, 67 per cent of whom were women and children. The flooding also damaged 1,500 homes, 440 latrines, 330 wells and 94 tons of grain.

Struggling with displacement

“The children feel lost because they used to sleep and eat together in the same place. That’s no longer the case,” Djiré said. Some family members found refuge with neighbours, but others had to rent temporary housing.

He added: “We used to take care of each other, but now that we’re separated, the adults have to keep an eye on the children and give them a sense of stability.”

Maimouna, another flood survivor, lives with her husband and children in a local elementary school, which is now an emergency shelter.

She explained: “We were just about to sleep when someone shouted for us to grab what we could and leave, because the water was coming.”

They sought refuge in an overcrowded school, but they’ve since moved to another school where they have a classroom as temporary housing.

Maimouna added: “We’ve been registered by the Government and have already received food, mosquito nets and non-food items. I needed this assistance to survive.”

Fortunately, Maimouna’s house did not collapse and her husband was able to salvage a few belongings with the help of neighbours. They are waiting for the water level to drop before returning.

Coordinated emergency support

In response to the crisis, the authorities activated the Operationalization of the Emergency Organization Plan. Implemented in major crises or disasters, the plan releases all available resources from State services and private individuals. OCHA alerted humanitarian partners in the area to ensure a rapid and coordinated response to affected people’s needs.

To support the Government, humanitarian partners continue helping affected people with emergency food and nutritional assistance, blankets, mats and hygiene kits.

Concerns remain despite these efforts, as Mali’s rainy season has just begun.

“I fear the worst is yet to come,” said Issiaka Coulibaly, head of the laboratory at the Centre de Santé de Référence, in Bla. The health facility also suffered damage, with its incinerator, water tower pump and generator compromised, and medicine worth at least US$16,000 ruined, raising concerns about the impact on local health services. 

“Thirty-six health areas depend on us. If our facility is no longer able to receive and treat patients, it worries us,” Coulibaly said solemnly.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA).