FEDERAL GOVT COMMENCES START-UPS SUPPORT AND ENGAGEMENT PORTAL

The recent report that Federal Government of Nigeria has commenced support and engagement portal for Start-ups reminds us about the rising significance of innovations by Start-ups in the digital economy. Start-upBlink is an Israeli-based company that organises annual Global Startup Ecosystem Index, which ranks Start-ups on recommendations in 1000 cities in 100 countries. The 2023 Start-upBlink report identified 15 African countries with top start-ups, includingunicorns, Jumia and Flutterwave in Nigeria. The Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2023 (GSER 2023) showed that no African city has attained the ranking of listing since inception. A long and more rigorous way to go. The World Economic Forum in 2021 recognized the crescendo and energy of a start-up 54gene, owned by Nigerian geneticist, Abasi Ene-Obong  for his role in launching COVID-19 mobile testing laboratories in Nigeria.  Thus, making it one of such Start-ups targeted by this government. Certainly, the launch of a Start-Ups Support and Engagement Portal by the Federal Government is a significant development, and it's crucial for startups like Flutterwave, WeMove, Fintech, Kobo360, and others to prepare strategically to leverage this opportunity. Some critical pieces of advice for these startups to consider among plethora of issues are: 1.Thoroughly examine the details of the Start-Ups Support and Engagement Portal to understand the specific programs, incentives, and support mechanisms that the government is offering.Identify the eligibility criteria and requirements for participation in the government initiatives. 2. Ensure that your startup's mission, goals, and activities align with the broader objectives of the government initiatives. This alignment can strengthen your case when applying for support or engaging with government programs. 3. Prepare and organize all necessary documentation related to your startup, including legal and financial documents. Compliance with regulatory requirements is often a key consideration for government support. 4. Clearly articulate the value proposition of your startup. Demonstrate how your business aligns with national development goals, job creation, or other relevant objectives emphasized by the government. 5. Ensure that your technology infrastructure is robust and scalable. Government initiatives may involve collaborations, partnerships, or integrations, and having a solid technological foundation is essential for seamless engagement. 6. Prioritize data security and privacy compliance. Many government initiatives involve the handling of sensitive data, and having robust security measures in place can build trust and facilitate smoother collaboration. 7. Strengthen your financial management processes. This includes having transparent accounting practices, clear financial projections, and an understanding of how government support may impact your financial statements. 8. Showcase your startup's scalability and growth potential. Governments often seek to support businesses that have the capacity to expand, create jobs, and contribute significantly to the economy. 9. Actively participate in networking events, industry forums, and other platforms where you can engage with government officials, policymakers, and potential collaborators. Building relationships can enhance your chances of being noticed and considered for support. 10. Highlight any social impact initiatives or corporate responsibility programs your startup is involved in. Many government initiatives have a social or community development component, and showcasing your commitment to these aspects can be beneficial. 11. Seek legal advice to ensure that your startup is fully compliant with existing laws and regulations. This is especially important if the government initiatives involve legal obligations or contractual agreements. Stay informed about updates and changes to government programs. Government initiatives may evolve, and being adaptive and responsive to these changes is crucial for continued engagement and success.By proactively addressing these areas, startups like Falutterwave, WeMove, Fintech, Kobo360, and others can position themselves effectively to benefit from the support and engagement opportunities offered through the Federal Government's initiatives.   We're keeping in touch with developments and surely keep you updated as we serve you further. Meanwhile your comments, critique , perspectives and DM are welcome.   Ikechukwu Odoemelam #iplawyer #corporateleaders

Corporate Social Responsibility: THE IMPACT OF AI ON PRIVACY AND INTELLECTUAL PROPE...

Corporate Social Responsibility: THE IMPACT OF AI ON PRIVACY AND INTELLECTUAL PROPE...: In a few earlier newsletters I dwelt on the fact that by way of introduction AI is a digital citizen who's now always with us and availa...

THE IMPACT OF AI ON PRIVACY AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

In a few earlier newsletters I dwelt on the fact that by way of introduction AI is a digital citizen who's now always with us and available to help with tasks and solutions.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become an integral part of our daily lives, revolutionizing the way we live, work, and communicate. While AI offers numerous benefits, it also raises concerns about privacy and intellectual property rights. This essay explores the multifaceted ways in which AI may affect these fundamental aspects of our digital age.

Privacy Concerns

💥 Data Collection and Surveillance AI systems are often used to collect and analyze vast amounts of data. This data can include personal information, online behaviors, and even biometric data. As AI-driven surveillance and data collection methods become more sophisticated, individuals may find their privacy compromised.Governments, corporations, and hackers can use AI to track and monitor individuals without their consent.

💥 Privacy Intrusions AI algorithms can process and interpret personal data, sometimes leading to intrusive and invasive experiences for individuals. Targeted advertising and content recommendations are examples of how AI may encroach on personal privacy by influencing our choices and preferences.

Intellectual Property Rights

💥 Copyright and Plagiarism AI tools have the ability to generate text, music, art, and other creative works. While this can be a boon for content creation, it also raises issues related to copyright and plagiarism. Identifying the true origin of AI-generated content and protecting the intellectual property rights of creators can be challenging.

Trademarks and Brand Protection AI can be employed to imitate brands and trademarks, leading to counterfeit products or misleading advertisements. Protecting brand identity and trademarks in the age of AI requires new strategies and technologies to combat fraud and misrepresentation.

3. Ethical and Legal Challenges

💥 Accountability Determining accountability when AI systems infringe on privacy or intellectual property rights can be complex. Is it the developer, the user, or the AI itself that should be held responsible for violations? Legal frameworks need to adapt to address these challenges.

💥 Bias and Discrimination AI algorithms can inherit biases from their training data, potentially leading to discriminatory practices. This can impact both privacy and intellectual property rights, as marginalized groups may face disproportionate harm in these domains.

Conclusion

🎤The rise of artificial intelligence presents both opportunities and challenges in the realms of privacy and intellectual property rights. As we navigate this evolving landscape, it is crucial to strike a balance between innovation and the protection of individual rights.

🎤Policymakers, legal experts, and technology developers must collaborate to establish clear guidelines and regulations that safeguard privacy and intellectual property in an AI-driven world. It is only through such measures that we can harness the full potential of AI while preserving fundamental human rights.

Thanks for your time and attention on this rapidly evolving topic.  Please keep your comments and critiques coming on this platform for improvement and modification.

I remain Ikechukwu Odoemelam #iplawyer #contentscreator  #corporateleaders

IKECHUKWU O. ODOEMELAM & CO

Legal Practitioners of the Supreme Court of Nigeria 

WHO'S A DUE PROCESS AND COMPLIANCE OFFICER?

#corporateleaders #branding #digitalskills #companies #directors  #contentcreator

I came across vaccancy posts for "Due Process and Compliance Officer' several times in the past but never considered who the prospective employers are searching for.

When I felt concerned to finout who are qualified I was startled by my findings.

I'm coming from a legal background with some trainings and experiences. With that mindset I was expecting lofty academic and corporate status qualifications.

Would it shock you to know that there's no particular qualificatons attached to that vaccancy?

One of the prospective employers simply wanted someone who can ensure that the  company complies

 with government  requirements and other external regullatory agencies.

For instance a person who has considerable amount of information about Nigerian Ports Authority by virtue of previous employments or services may be considered for that vaccancy in  Import/Export company.

Another example could be someone who had considerable experiences with electricity generating company could be considered for that vaccancy in a company like EEDC, KEDC etc 

The Nigerian Data Protection Act which just t came into effect made provision for Data Protection Officer (DPO)… For the qualifications of a DPO one would have thought that formal academic or specific skills were necessary, but the Act holds a contrary view. Just departmental knowledge and experience are enough to land you the job.

But hey, don't walk away with that simple definition hook, line and sinker.  

Some vaccancies demand specific skills like having engineering, medical, baking and finance degree.  In some cases you're required to be experienced and analytical.

Don't forget that some employers use different names for the post; like Enforcement Officer. So whenever you see those vaccancies don't consider yourself out until you've gone through properly.

While I thank you for your time, I welcome your comments and responses.

I'M

Ikechukwu Odoemelam

Legal Practitioners of the Supreme Court of Nigeria 

Corporate Attorneys/Consultants 

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Iyke-Ozemena/author/B0078UY9VQ?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

A HOME OR A 🏠 HOUSE

 "A HOME OR A HOUSE" is a new title in my

publishing enterprises at 

KDP.AMAZOM.COM which came live 

Tuesday, 14th February, 2023 sequel to

 this notification:

"Hello Ikechukwu,

Congratulations, your book "A HOME OR A 

HOUSE" is now live and available for 

purchase in the Kindle Store and enrolled

in KDP Select! If you republished your

 book, your changes will be published

 based on these timelines."

- Amazon.com publishing

ABOUT THE BOOK.

IN THIS EBOOK YOU'D DISCOVER NOT ONLY THE DIFFERENCE BUT THE VALUE BETWEEN A HOME AND A HOUSE.

                 S U M M A R R Y

#realestate  #investment  #legal

One of the smartest way to create 

generational wealth is estates 

investment.  You don't wait until you 

accumulate huge capital base.  That's 

the conventional module available only 

for the rich and affluent.

For the average people globally you start 

with the little you can conveniently 

afford and progress infinatum.  This is in Chapter 1.

It's the safest form of investment which 

is not prone to any adverse 

economic cycle.

It's tangible asset you can easily turn 

into cash during emergencies.

Most business transactions requiring 

collaterals often find properties more 

acceptable than others.

Whether or not used as collateral, 

properties appreciate every time, faster 

and more reliable than any other form of 

investment.

Perhaps it's the most used module for 

wealth transfer, gifts and or inheritance 

among families.

WATCH:. 

https://www.facebook.com/100075535582436/posts/pfbid028XeHjstCRMY7dr3UZNwhp5kDZqCtt9m7DhDnrgKwawwqcLPTbXAV1KFRfNnEqbuRl/?app=fbl

           ............................................

IKECHUKWU ODOEMELAM Esq

Corporate Attorney/Consultant

BLOGGER:. https://www.corporate leadersboard.blogspot.com

COLUMNIST: https://www.thenigerianvoice.com/author/iykeOzemena

https://www.linkedin.com/in/iyke-ozemena-07b53453

https://www.amazon.com/author/iykeOzemena

Author

DIRECTORS: Duties & Enforcement http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005783S6S

MEETINGS: Dynamics and Legality - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MKCESY

Land Law of Nigeria: https://kdp.amazon.com/title-setup/AX486FHQ8OGJ

For comments, observations and critiques - ideaworkshop@live.

HOW NOT TO LOOSE YOUR DWELLING HOUSE AFTER 25 YEARS

Do you want to own a home(s) in 2023? Then discover how in this Report.

 You need sufficient time to get ready. Starting with the realization that the total sum of your rent for 25 years is the equivalent for purchasing mortgage home.

Then here's a step-by-step guide to be aware how not to loose your dwelling house after 25 years.

We're aware that during austiere times it's never in the picture of your mind to stop being a tenant to become a house owner. That's the secret of the report. Your concern, just like anyone else is: how feasible?

It would have been logical if there were no austerity or crisis. You imagine why the value of this report was not revealed to you earlier when you were bouyant and comfortable.

That's the point. Naturally at these times we tend to dwell in fool's paradise; our comfort zones. No thought that any thing could produce adverse change.

We all know that crisis do lead to changes. Leaders also emerge during crisis, while innovations debut. 

New products and services appear on the horizon as a result of scientific, social, political or economic upheavals.

Innovations occurred as a result of one crisis or the other: Kentucky fried chicken, Microsoft, IBM, General Electric, FedEx etc. So the looming global economic strangulation could be a catalyst for your leap into prosperity.

Work from home as an alternative to physical work-place emerged due to lockdown combat against COVID-19.

Prior to the time it would have been serious inconvenience and breach of privacy and fundamental rights to ask a worker to put on face masks.

This report with vital and critical up-to-date guide for you and entrepreneurs was produced by a team of professionals. 

We have different versions touching various areas of enterprising endeavors. Every valuable has a price. We cannot be producing them at our costs alone.

There's a percentage of $4 stipend we require you to make as commitment for us to continue to produce them.

But to insist on that may reduce the number of people urgently wishing to activate mortgage projects. 

With just N1000 you'd have the Report delivered to your email.  That's a token commitment from you for us to show you the practical bigger picture of the project.

CONVENTIONAL WEALTH SAVINGS .. 

Management of personal finances and wealth creation principles are some of specialised offers we provide on this platform.

Your desires spur you to achieve more even if you think you're at the pinnacle of your achievements.

A fish named koi  is said to grow in direct correlation to the size of its pond.

Extrapolate that to humans. Our environments shape our growth and developments. 

The more challenges in our environments, the more elastic our potentials to achieve more.

Therefore to avoid feeling of despondency and redundancy after attaining the peak of performance, find more/higher pitches and challenges.

Just one scenario that links everyone is the issue of shelter. According to Abraham Maslow on hierarchy of needs, shelter is second most important thing in life.

If you don't have it and you don't mind, you're probably considered to be of unsound mind.

If you have, it must have cost you significant part of your income - about 40% of our incomes or a little less.

Even if it's a gift the value can only be appreciated when the property is evaluated for its current worth.

Then for you who's not fortunate to own shelter or gift you occupy one through a contract called Tenancy.  

This is the commonest form of legally occupying shelter owned by a landlord.

It's a periodic contract for specified fee and conditions. The tenant's rights don't last for ever. 

Occupation is not guaranteed; the tenant remains as long as fees and conditions are regular. Not forgetting that the landlord always reserves an overriding clause to recover the property from the tenant's possession even when fees and conditions are regular. 

Take casestudy of two tenants A and B who occupied identical apartments for 25 years of their working lives, or doing business, paying exact yearly rents of N200,000.  

Say they were tenants at Blue Estates, Cityland.. 

Don't panic, we know you don't live at Blue Estates Cityland. You could live anywhere, working or independent business.

Tenant A stayed in the apartment for 25 years, retired and remained a tenant.

Even God wishes you prosper and remain in good health. You need knowledge to achieve that. 

Tenant B took our Report option in the Tenancy Agreement that allows any tenant wishing to become owner occupier, to pay purchase value of the property.

We hear you say 'where I go find money?" You need valuable knowledge and it's application to achieve that.

Any cost to acquire the knowledge is investment in success.

We can assist you find opportunities money can be accessed at some costs. But if you consider yourself Tenant A, then that's the end of the benefits for you as far as our Report is concerned. 

But your loved ones, well-wishers and contacts may benefit from our Report/project.

The reason is that as you retire after 25 years as tenant at Blue Estates, you'd continue to remain in the apartment as tenant, provided your rents and conditions are regular. 

Perhaps the more devastating thing is, you can't own the property.

While we were analysing Tenant A's consequences of his choice decion, we should have told you that Tenant B who took our advice/option retired and lived in the apartment as owner occupier. No stories.

One of the safest investment options during economic boom and now that global economy is tumbling is estates.

For a healthy wealth creation strategy, experts believe that Estates should account for at least 40% of your total investment.

Investment in landed property whether developed or not requires certain skills. If you don't have the skills, please hire an expert.

Essentially it's about calculated risk studied and practised by professionals.

Raising Equity contribution might not be easy for everyone.

Here's a tip. These days there're crowd-funding schemes organized by groups, Start-ups and cooperatives.

Access to any of them would have saved you the ordeal of seeking for overdraft, or short-term loan from your bank or any other formal lending institution.

We don't discourage any legitimate means you may resort to for effectively activating your mortgage project, however we're aware that provision of collateral to secure any financial deal is real challenge.

WATCH:. https://www.facebook.com/100075535582436/posts/pfbid028XeHjstCRMY7dr3UZNwhp5kDZqCtt9m7DhDnrgKwawwqcLPTbXAV1KFRfNnEqbuRl/?app=fbl

Ikechukwu O.Odoemelam & Co

Legal Practitioners

COLUMNIST: https://www.thenigerianvoice.com/author/iykeOzemena

https://www.linkedin.com/in/iyke-ozemena-07b53453

https://www.amazon.com/author/iykeOzemena

REGULATING AI: A GLOBAL CHALLENGE

Ikechukwu Odoemelam Esq, 

Corporate Attorney/Consultant

Since artificial intelligence (AI) became commonplace and applied by anyone

 according to need an affordability, the entire world is not only aware but engaged in serious dialogue about how to respond to it.

European Union (EU) Act is the first global effort at regulating artificial intelligence (AI) aside from measures being taken by other sovereign states and political regions.

Apart from being strict, the emphasis of the Act is on the adoption of  AI as a safe and environmentally friendly innovation.

More other concerns of the Act include transparency, non-discrimination and traceability.  Most importantly the Act insists that the entire AI system should be under human supervision instead of AI. 

That sounds reassuring to assuage the fear of possibile endangering human lives and existence by AI.

Other jurisdictions like USA and North America, opted for lessez-ferez approach; abhorring any form of legislative regulations.  Instead the existing intellectual property rights: copyright, patent, trademark etc remain sacrosanct.  

Whereas the judiciary are strengthened to uphold and protect these rights against any invasion or infringement by AI innovations.

Asian regions, especially China and India introduced strong regulations but they seem to be concerned about the control of AI within their sovereign enclaves.

The approach adopted by South American countries differ significantly from those dealt with already in this discourse.  

Rather than embracing EU legislative approach or relying on the judicial powers like USA, they're using corporate governance as guide or minimum standard: the general rules and exceptions. 

Some Latin America countries put in place measures to protect minorities from the effect of AI, and collectively punish breaches. Perhaps big entities and individuals are left to confront AI application where their rights are threatened.

African continent appear to be sizing up the latent adverse effects of AI, even though a large proportion of the continent have embraced the use and confidence is growing by the day.

It's not unlikely that when they're ready many of them may adopt legislative approach. Most of them have written constitutions as well as written IP laws.

Overall, the world is aware and awake to the presence of AI. Massive education, collaboration and global corporate governance are needed to harmonize use of AI and regulate it's use.

We're keeping in touch with developments and surely keep you updated. Meanwhile your comments, critique and perspectives are welcome.

Ikechukwu Odoemelam

#corporateleaders