The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) is delighted to be a part of this Intellectual Property Symposium, which underscores the need for collective action in building respect for intellectual property (IP) rights as a strategic resource for economic growth.
This is another opportunity for key stakeholders in the field of IP to discuss the scourge of counterfeiting and piracy. Nigeria is well endowed with creative talents and has continued to distinguish itself, particularly in the entertainment and knowledge-based industries.
The Federal Government, under the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has introduced various policies and programmes aimed at tapping into the soft power of the creative sector. Taking a cue from the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) and the Policy on Ease of Doing Business, the NCC has continued to provide the enabling legal and regulatory environment to grow the sector and guarantee return on investment.
I am convinced that this symposium will further set clear agenda for all players in the IP space and promote greater collaboration to boost our human capital and stimulate economic development through better protection and use of the copyright system.
As we mark 30 years of NCC and celebrate the creative industry, it is no coincidence that the theme for the celebrations is “Changing the Copyright Narrative for Wealth Creation.” This is an acknowledgement of the place of copyright as a viable tool for employment generation, wealth creation and sustainable national development.
As the agency of government responsible for all copyright matters in Nigeria, NCC remains committed to a strong, balanced and efficient copyright system that is able to grow the creative industries and sustain today’s knowledge ecosystem. To this end, our primary goals include:
- Strengthening human and institutional capacity for better service delivery;
- Improving the policy and legal framework for a functional copyright system;
- Embarking on a well coordinated strategic enforcement plan to significantly reduce piracy
- Initiating appropriate and effective schemes for better rights management and regulation;
Promoting respect for copyright through awareness and education amongst right owners, users, policy makers and officials; - Supporting national and international processes to build a more balanced, development-oriented copyright system;
Compliance with the rules of probity and good governance to ensure that Nigeria gets premium value for its copyright system.
