NCC vows stronger action against piracy

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The Director-General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission, Dr John Asein, has reiterated the commission’s commitment to combating piracy.

The DG spoke on Thursday during the Nigeria Publishers Association’s diamond jubilee and AGM, held at the Lekan Are Hall, Kakanfo Inn and Conference Centre, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Asein stated that NCC had expanded awareness campaigns, strengthened regulatory frameworks, and scaled up operations of its Special Taskforce to curb piracy both online and offline, in line with the Copyright Act 2022.

He said, “NCC had expanded awareness campaigns, strengthened regulatory frameworks and scaled up operations of its Special Taskforce to curb piracy both online and offline, in line with the Copyright Act 2022.”

Speaking at the occasion, the Chairman, Solomon Adeleke, said publishers have been playing a crucial role in preserving intellectual property and supporting learning at all levels. However, he noted that abrupt changes in education policies have often resulted in losses for publishers who invested heavily in textbooks.

He stressed the need for consistent consultations with the association before policy formulation or curriculum review. Adeleke, who described book piracy as a major threat to creativity and industry growth, advocated stricter enforcement of existing copyright laws to protect publishers and authors and ensure fair returns on investments.

He commended the resilience of publishers despite high production costs and economic challenges, adding that the sector deserved government support because of its importance to Nigeria’s knowledge economy.

Delivering the keynote speech, the Secretary-General of the Pan-African Writers Association, Dr Wale Okediran, traced the evolution of publishing in Nigeria and said technological innovation, while expanding access to books, also introduced quality control challenges, particularly within self-publishing, urging collaboration to maintain professional standards.

In his address, the 25th President and Chairman of the NPA Council, Mr Dauda, said the association had consistently promoted quality education through the production of affordable instructional materials aligned with approved curricula. He appealed to education authorities to review the implementation of proposed curriculum changes, urging that the scrapping of some subjects be phased with a transition period of at least two years.

Additionally, Dauda suggested that the new curriculum should commence from the 2026/2027 academic session for primary one, with other classes joining progressively, to ensure the timely availability of relevant textbooks nationwide.

The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr Kingsley Udeh, represented by the Acting Director-General, Dr Peter Oluwafisoye, urged NPA to sustain efforts toward making literacy and education more accessible.

In her remarks, the Executive Director of the Universal Basic Education Commission, Mrs Aisha Garba, represented by Mrs Zainab Abubakar, lauded the association’s six decades of impact and encouraged members to keep evolving with changing technologies.

The celebration featured awards for excellence and meritorious service to notable industry stakeholders, including NCC DG, Dr Asein; the Managing Director of Booksellers Limited, Dr Kolade Mosuro; and former NPA President, Mr Samuel Kolawole.

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