CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.0
Background of the Study
In
the ever changing human society, creativity has been acknowledged to be
decisive to all human activity. Creative efforts are made daily by individuals,
group of persons and organizations to add value to societal living.
Creativity
is seen as the tendency to generate or recognise ideas, alternatives or
possibilities that may be useful in solving problems, communicating with others
and entertaining ourselves and others (Traitman, 2012).
Intellectual
property creativity has become a major yardstick for evaluating individuals in
different societies in recent time. Scholars and practitioners have highlighted
the predominant role of creativity as a core competence needed by individuals,
teams or groups working in diverse domains of work (Shalley, Zhou and Oldham,
2004).
In
the 21st century, creativity is needed for individuals to survive as
there is a required need for creative abilities for a new generation of
high-tech, high-skills industries and provision of quality services of various
kinds. Thus, any youth that depends on old methods to tackle today’s challenges
may end up having an unfulfilled dream (Ofole and Ezeokoli, 2014).
According
to Runco (2004), the complexity of life challenges demands that one is forward
looking in approach to issues; as the solutions to yesterday’s problems may be
inadequate and misleading in tackling today’s problems.
With
the swift transformations in technology and global competition in all facets of
human endeavour, it is important that youths who are the leaders of tomorrow
are fully equipped with creative skills that will make them relevant, and be
able to subdue hindrances capable of preventing them from translating their
dreams to realities (Hassan and Ogunyemi, 2008). Ofole and Ezeokoli (2014)
opined that when these requisites skills are lacking, it has a great developmental,
economical, political and social consequences for a nation like Nigeria where
youths make up over a third (31.6 percent) of Nigeria’s large and growing
population (National Population Commission, 2013).
Intellectual
property creativity is the basis of all human actions which leads to decision
that prompts a consequent action (Kirton, 2003; Cropely, 2006). Thus, there is
no decision without thinking and if anything is wrong at this perceptual
thinking and decision-making stage, the consequent action would also be in the
wrong direction. If properly done, rational, constructive, creative, realistic,
productive and responsible behaviour will be the outcome, if otherwise,
muddled, illogical, irrational, subjective, unrealistic, unproductive will be
the case.
Robinson
(2001) posited that creativity is the process of developing ideas that are
original and of value. The above definitions may have informed Animasahun
(2013) observation that lack of creative potentials amount to foolish and
irresponsible behaviours occasioned by poor thinking.
Despite
the potentials of creativity to transform a nation, there is growing concern on
the underdevelopment of creativity in the society including Nigeria. In
pre-colonial Nigeria for example, pot making, gold smiting, crafting, molding
and other forms of creative arts were transmitted from one generation to the
other (Ofole and Ezeokoli, 2014).
Ofole
and Ezeokoli (2014) further noted that a study on creativity in 2012 shows that
8 in 10 people feel that unlocking creativity is critical to economic growth
and nearly two-thirds of respondents feel creativity is valuable to society,
yet a striking minority – only 1 in 4 people- believe they are living up to
their own creative potential.
Animasahun
(2013) corroborated this observation when the scholar reported that pinging has
replaced thinking among sampled school-going youths in Nigeria who spend much
time on their cell phones pinging rather than engaging in creative intellect.
Perhaps, what Nigerian society lacks is productive thinking which accounts for
the aggravated social menaces including high crime rate in the society.
The
advent of different social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp,
Instagram e.t.c) has helped a number of youths in intellectual creativity with
values to show, while many others use these mediums for nothing of value, thereby
worsening the current intellectual creativity state among youths.
As
a result of unproductive thinking Hassan and Ogunyemi (2008) observed that
development of creative talents in the society has been on the decline, and if
nothing is done to halt the trend it might eventually lead to recycling old
products and offering services using old pattern.
Therefore,
this study will examine intellectual property creativity and youths development
in Nigeria.
1.2 Statement of Problems
Every
intellectual property owner is expected to derive joy and attractive remunerations
from one’s intellectual works after ceaseless, tireless and sleepless time
invested to produce and perfect their works.
In
recent years, many youths have not been encouraged to engage in intellectual
creativity for personal development. This has limited the developments of a
number of youths in different societies in Nigeria.
While
this remains a major hindrance to the overall development of youths in the
country, a few of them have been intellectually creative in diverse field of endeavours,
but have been completely hindered by the abuses that accompanies intellectual
properties. Eze, Ugwuanyi and Ugwu
(2016) observed that this attraction and hopes are spoilt by the
treacherous acts of some individuals who are eager to reap where they never
sowed. In this case these individuals abuse the intellectual properties of
their producers or creators. These abuses appear in many forms like plagiarism
and piracy. While plagiarism has to do with actions of taking someone’s ideas, works,
words, etc. to be one’s own without admitting to have done that, piracy
manifests itself in the illegal reproduction of copyright works like paintings,
books, architectural drawings, films, photographs computer software’s etc, for
commercial purposes. These two commonest
abuses not only make the creators suffer financial losses, loss of reputation and
social displacement but also dampen creativity. They also deprive a nation of
its income, cause unemployment and laziness for youths.
Likewise,
the government policy on intellectual property in Nigeria have yielded low or
no results as many youths feel unprotected from this social injustice that has dampen
their creativity over the years.
1.3 Objective of the study
This
study intends to identify the major problems of intellectual property
creativity among youths and thus proposing some plausible strategies that can
promote effective creativity toward youth development in Nigeria. Therefore the
objectives of this study is:
1.
To examine the level of intellectual property creativity engagements among
youths in Nigeria.
2. To highlight how intellectual property
creativity have developed Nigerian youths over the years.
3.
To identify the hindrances associated with intellectual property creativity in
developing youths in Nigeria.
4.
To identify the loopholes in government policy on intellectual property that
affects youth development in Nigeria.
1.4 Research Questions
To be able to identify
the major problems of intellectual property creativity among youths in Nigeria, the following research
questions have been put forward as a guide;
1. What is the level
of intellectual property creativity engagements among youths in Nigeria?
2.
Has intellectual property creativity developed Nigerian youths over the years?
3.
What are the hindrances associated with intellectual property creativity in
developing youths in Nigeria?
4.
What are the loopholes in government policy on intellectual property that
affects youth development in Nigeria?
1.5 Significance of the study
This research has both Theoretical and
Practical significance.
Theoretically, this study will contribute to
the scholarly debate on the intellectual property abuses in Nigeria. This study
explores the ways through which intellectual property creativity has limited
youth development in Nigeria.
Practically, the outcome of this study will
be instrumental to youth development in Nigeria, particularly as it concerns
creativity and entrepreneurship. It will also help the policy makers to
reposition, complement or change the strategies and methods of intellectual
properties abuse in the country. Finally, if the study succeeds in identifying
issues and facilitating understanding on the importance of creativity, it will
enrich the lives of many youths across the length and breadth this country for
growth and development.
1.6 Scope of the study
The dangers being imposed by abuses of
intellect and creativity are fraught with problems. This study will
therefore be beneficial to the government of Nigeria in putting in place policies
that can resolve the issues in intellectual property abuses in the country. The
study will also be limited to youth development as it concerns intellectual
property creativity in Nigeria.
1.7 Operational Definition
of terms
Intellectual
Property: intangible property that is the result of
creativity, such as patents, copyrights, etc.
Creativity:
The
use of imagination or original ideas to create something; inventiveness.
Youth development: This
is a process that prepares a young person to meet the challenges of adolescence and adulthood
and achieve his or her full potential. Youth development is promoted through
activities and experiences that help youth develop social, ethical, emotional,
physical, and cognitive competencies.