02 Feb TRADEMARKS REGISTRATION

NLRC, MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY, TRADE AND INVESTMENTS FORM ALLIANCE

The Director-General National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Mr Lanre Gbajabiamila has said that no government agency can fully function in isolation but must collaborate with relevant sister agencies to succeed. 

Gbajabiamila made the assertion while receiving a special delegation from the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment which paid him a courtesy visit at the NLRC corporate headquarters in Abuja recently. 

In his welcome address, Gbajabiamila said that the Lottery Indus-try played a critical role in the investment drive of the country whilst also adding that the visit of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment was a highly welcomed development. 

“Your reasons for visiting us today are most welcome. From our experience with lottery operators, we have realized that most of them believe that once they have registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and get a trading name, all is well for them. But that’s not the case. So, your visit today to collaborate with us is so appropriate and we are very delighted because our industry has grown in so many aspects. 

“You would not be the first we have collaborated with in our drive towards maximizing the exigencies of our ever-growing industry. We have also identified relevant agencies to partner with, like the National Communications Commission (NCC), Nigeria Technological Development Agency (NITDA), Nigeria Financial Intelligence Agency (NFIU), and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), among so many others. Specifically, our collaboration with you is very important because we have had issues with operators coming up with names that have already been chosen by another,” Gbajabiamila explained. 

The NLRC DG added that he was looking forward to working with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to ensure lottery operators duly register their trademarks to avoid any form of confusion and illegitimacy. 

Stating the reasons for their visit, the Registrar Trademarks in FMITI and the leader of the delegation, Barr. (Dr) Shafiu Adamu Yauri expressed optimism that the collaboration between the two agencies would birth mutual benefits. 

DG NLRC, Lanre Gbajabiamila (middle) and his management team pose with the visitors from the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment

According to Yauri, the collaboration is a fulcrum toward building and sustaining a strong and more efficient registration system. 

“I want to thank the Director-General of the National Lottery Commission, Mr. Lanre Gbajabiamila for granting us this opportunity to collaborate with the NLRC as well as interact with your principal officers. 

“As a Registry, our strategic direction is to improve and strengthen our registration system in the country and to deepen our collaboration with Ministries, Departments and Agencies on issues of awareness. The NLRC is one of the very important agencies of government that are key to the protection of trademarks in Nigeria. 

Many companies registered with the CAC have failed to register their trademarks. Some even have the erroneous belief that their trademarks are protected by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) is very understanding of the process. The registration with the CAC only grants you permission to do business but for the intellectual aspect of the business to thrive, you need to protect the trademark,” Yauri explained. 

He went further to say that the only aspect that protects the name of any business or company is a registration with the Trade-marks Registry and that his agency has also reached out to several government agencies in making sure that business names and companies are well protected under law. 

“The Registrar further gave clarifications on pertinent questions asked by the management team of the NLRC, 

adding that a Desk Officer would be specifically dedicated to the NLRC. He said had also reached out to several government agencies to make sure that business names and companies are well protected under law. 

Present at the occasion were Directors of the NLRC and other members in the delegation of the Federal Ministry of Industry

By Ngozi Aneke and Tony Udoka