This was made known
during a Media Presentation held at the Radisson Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, which had
in attendance dignitaries including business owners, business executives,
marketing directors, brand custodians, corporate affairs directors, regulatory
agencies, security operatives, and the brand-marketing and technology media
community.
MARQ SIKYOR AFRICA
which started operations in 2013 is a pioneer Brand Protection and
Anti-Counterfeiting firm providing services to local, international and global
companies, institutions, and organisations, that wish to protect their brands
from counterfeiting and other forms of infringement in Africa. The firm covers
the key markets in the continent: East Africa, through their Nairobi operations
in Kenya, West Africa, through Lagos office in Nigeria, and Southern Africa,
through the Johannesburg operations in South Africa.
The Founder and Group
Evangelist of the company, Mr. Joko Okupe, said that, “The repertoire of
expertise and experience available to MARQ SIKYOR AFRICA, its in-depth
understanding of the market terrains, and good grasp of the workings of Law
Enforcement and Regulatory Agencies, make us surefooted to deliver results in
infringement investigations and enforcement matters. Our brand protection
investigations cover Anti-Counterfeiting, Anti-Piracy, Parallel Imports,
Product Diversion, Trademark Infringement and Product Tampering/Adulteration
among others.”
In his Presentation at
the event, the Founder of MARQ SIKYOR AFRICA, said that the Media Presentation
of the firm is a great milestone in the fight against all forms of
infringements; and in the efforts to safeguard brand assets and intellectual
property in Nigeria. “Currently, we are in a globalised world where brand
building has become a strong fundamental for businesses, institutions, and
governments – as it propels business growth and countries’ economic growth. In
today’s world, where all frontiers and boundaries are broken, brands cross
geographic and cultural borders in trade relationships involving exports for
the purpose of earning foreign exchange, and even in organizing cultural events
anchored on brand sponsorship”.
According to him, “Of the top 10 most
valuable brands in the world, 7 are of American origin and are great wealth
earners for the businesses and the country. It’s no wonder the USA is at the
forefront of championing Anticounterfeiting drive globally. There is a new
awakening to the understanding that brands are intangible but incredibly
effective assets to a nation’s growth and development.” It is noted that
developed economies appear to be over-investing in branding compared to
developing economies to increase their competitiveness.
For this reason, developing countries,
particularly African countries, are encouraged to ignite their passion for
building strong brands, if they must compete favourably in the global marketplace.
He said that strong brands don’t just happen; “They are outcomes of great
visions powered by strong strategies and backed by great investments and
commitment.”
He reminded the audience at the launch
event that, the global market is in a constant state of flux, and Nigeria is
part of that market, which most often is accelerated through technological
change, and brands help markets to adapt most appropriately and responsively.
Brands, he said, contribute to the nations’
economic growth and adaptation to global competition through the creation of
products and services, and also production and reproduction of social goods
that benefit the society, as they participate in increasing a nation’s GDP, and
supporting a peoples’ overall livelihood and wellbeing. Brands with strong
recognition and global reach are an enormous asset to their home countries.
Therefore, these brands need to be protected, he said.
According to research, counterfeiting and
other infringement crimes cost the global economy about $1.77 trillion in 2019.
In the past 9 years, Mr. Okupe said 5 of the clients they have worked with lost
over 200 billion naira to counterfeiting.
He mentioned that, strong brands cost
fortunes to create, nurture and grow. According to him “When brands become strong,
they garner loyalty and possess the potential of guaranteed future earnings and
good returns to the owners.” He reminded brand owners of the need to think up
and implement cutting edge strategies to protect their most valuable assets
from infringement and theft to ensure they reap the dividends of their sweat
and investments.
He called for a close collaboration between
brand owners, brand custodians, security operatives and other stakeholders with
MARQ SIKYOR AFRICA to secure and safeguard Nigerian brands, and indeed brands
across Africa.
MARQ SIKYOR AFRICA is a member of
International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition(IAAC); Strategic & Competitive
Intelligence Professionals (SCIP); World Association of Private Detectives
(WAD) and Anticounterfeiting Collaboration Nigeria (ACC)
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