Creative industry bubbles as Enterprise Support Programme starts

Optimism pervades the creative industry, following the takeoff of the Enterprise Support Programme, an initiative that will see the law firm, Ajumogobia& Okeke, render free professional services with regards to trademark registration and protection, as well as copyright notifications, brand protection and licensing among others to stakeholders

LEADERS of creative industry associations have commended the Enterprise Support Programme (ESP), an initiative developed by CORA/Arterial Network Nigeria in partnership with leading commercial law firm, Ajumogobia & Okeke, for professional legal advisory services to Nigeria’s creative industry entrepreneurs.

It will be recalled that an eminent lawyer and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, OdeinAjumogobia (SAN) had in February, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with CORA/Arterial Network Nigeria to provide legal backing and support for artists and creative entrepreneurs to improve their documentation and access to funding, investments and other business opportunities.

Speaking at the July 7 launch of the product of that MoU, the Enterprise Support Programme (ESP), stakeholders and leaders of the creative industry associations hailed the initiative and advised artists to utilise the opportunity judiciously.

The commentators spoke after the Associate Partner at Ajumogobia & Okeke, Ebunoluwa Awosika, had provided clarifications on the programme’s plans on Intellectual Property (IP) protection, advice in contract negotiations, sponsorship deals, tours and agency. Awosika had also explained the scope of pro bono professional services with regards to trademark registration and protection, copyright notifications, brand protection and licensing, as well as how artists and creative entrepreneurs would be guided by the law firm in the preparation of legal documents required for processing credit facilities with banks.

Reacting to the programme’s official take-off, flautist and chair, Entertainment Foundation of Nigeria, Tee-Mac Iseli, praised CORA/Arterial Network Nigeria and Ajumogobia & Okeke for the collaboration.

Art patron and collector, Prince Yemisi Shyllon, also said: “I commend Ajumogobia & Okeke for this support and urge all artists to take advantage of this opportunity. There is one other area I would like to mention which is unrelated. I think artists should also look at the issue of health insurance. I’m being inundated, on a very regular basis, with artists having a stroke, artists cannot walk and so on. This is an area we will appreciate if Arterial can take up.”

Co-founder of Red Media Africa, Chude Jideonwo, equally expressed excitement about the initiative. ‘‘I’m very excited about the support from Ajumogobia & Okeke. Not just for the appearance of support but for the quality and intensity of the support because my ears were open listening [to the briefing]. I was thinking, would there be exclusionary terms that might give significant burdens to the recipients?”

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President, Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA), Oliver Enwonwu, while commending the initiative, seized the opportunity to draw attention to some peculiarities in the visual arts industry that also needed adequate attention in the programme’s implementation, notably the issue of  Artist’s Resale Right which entitles creators of original works of art (including paintings, engravings, sculpture and ceramics) to a royalty each time one of their works was resold through an auction house or art market professional.

President of the Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Ralph Nwadike advised artists against the assumption that they are immune to legal actions even when they feel they are doing the right thing. “Basically, we need this thing because no one is an island. You may think you are always treading on the right path and suddenly something drops on your lap and it’s a law case. Most of us, at some time in our lives, need a lawyer. What they are offering us (Ajumogobia & Okeke) is fantastic.”

Israel Eboh, President, National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP), commended the initiative and assured the CORA/Arterial Nigeria of NANTAP’s cooperation.

At the end of the event, which also doubled as CORA/Arterial Network Nigeria 2017/2018 General Assembly, a new steering committee was elected to steer the affairs of the Network in Nigeria for the next two years. The committee comprises Anthony Afolabi Martins (chairperson), Unoma Giese (deputy chairperson), Omolara Sanni (treasurer), Olaoye Ghaffar (financial secretary), Seun Olota (cultural policy officer) and Mitchelle Defounga (media and publicity).  Culture programmer and journalist, Jahman Anikulapo chaired the old steering committee.