Artisans Commend NCC on Copyright Enlightenment, Calls for Synergy

ARTISANS in Abuja have expressed gratitude to the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) for addressing their knowledge gaps on Copyright and Intellectual Property (IP), which is expected to improve their craftsmanship and increase the economic benefits from their intellectual efforts.
This was stated by the Manager of the FCT Arts and Craft Village, Abuja, Mallam Suleiman Yahaya, during the Copyright Awareness and Sensitisation programme for artisans of the FCT Arts and Craft Village, Abuja on Wednesday 14th November 2024.
Mallam Yahaya while lauding the initiative, emphasised that the programme would help organise and refine the artisans’ practices, fostering professionalism within the community. He called for further collaboration between the NCC and artisans, especially in the area of registration of works, and urged other government agencies to complement NCC’s efforts at protecting creative works and combating unauthorised copying.
Addressing the participants, the Director-General, NCC, represented by Principal Copyright Officer, NCA, Mrs. Jummai Shelleng, said the sensitisation is aimed at enlightening the artisans on their IP rights, to assist them conduct their crafts in line with global best practices and to enhance just recompense from their intellectual exertions. He assured that more sensitisation exercises will be conducted for artisans in the FCT while efforts will be made to address some of the concerns raised with the necessary institutional support.
Delivering the vote of thanks, FCT Chairman, Society of Nigeria Artists (SNA), Mr. Aderinkomi John Adeleye, tasked all artisans on originality and innovation in their crafts while assuring of a new approach to work by the craftsmen as a response to the copyright enlightenment.
Highlight of the sensitisation was the presentations on: Fundamentals of Copyright by Mrs. Jummai Shelleng and Safeguarding Intellectual Property Rights of Artisans Against Economic Misuse by Principal Copyright Officer, Public Affairs, NCC, Mr. Amos Abutu.

Amos Abutu
For: Director-General