Technology

Akideinde advocates better education on intellectual property in creative industry

The General Manager of Digital Products and Innovation at Airtel Nigeria, Oye Akideinde has underscored the need for better education on Intellectual Property (IP) within the creative industry.

He gave the insights while participating as a panelist at the 15th edition of The Fela Debates series, held recently at NECA Hall in Ikeja, Lagos

Akideinde emphasized the potential of the creative arts to propel economic growth within Nigeria while lamenting the common pitfalls that prevent young Nigerian creatives from accessing these benefits.

“You will see artistes signing contracts without even knowing they are signing away their publishing rights for life. Every opportunity I get with creatives in a workshop or conference, I tell them that the most important person you need on your team is a lawyer because music is law,” he said.

Akideinde, who recently joined Airtel after his role as the GM of Music Services for the MTN Group, now shoulders the responsibility of not only conceptualising but also developing and executing digital strategy and innovation for Nigeria’s second-largest telecom operator.

Leveraging his extensive experience in the creative sector, having previously led three prominent Digital Service Providers in Africa (Spinlet, Boomplay, and MusicTime), Akideinde drew critical insights from managing some of the industry’s biggest musical acts.

“Education is the main element that needs to be looked at throughout the creative sector. The whole value chain, whether it’s the creators, creative SMEs, regulators, consumers, or investors, everyone needs to be educated on the laws that guide the business.

“I’ve seen some contracts from record labels and distros where they put in clauses around the 360 deals, meaning they own publishing 100 percent, and the artiste doesn’t even know or understand what that means.

“Education empowers individuals with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to succeed in the creative sector, while also encouraging the exploration and development of new ideas and forms of expression. The lack of it through outdated curriculums, limited resources, and lack of infrastructure doesn’t help creatives with skill development, access to tools and resources, and an in-depth knowledge base,” he said.

Akideinde called for collaborative efforts from the government and educational institutions to address these issues, involving curriculum reforms, increased funding, infrastructure development, teachers training, and partnerships with international creative educational bodies.

He also encouraged creatives to take the initiative to educate themselves through online platforms such as EDX, Coursera, and valuable resources available online.

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