THE Nigerian Copyright Act, 2022 which came into effect on 17th March 2023, has been appraised as one of the best in the world by librarians. The Electronic Information for Libraries (EIFL) consortium and experts applauded the Act’s ability to address emerging challenges and global realities in the copyright ecosystem.

This was disclosed by librarians, experts and stakeholders during a webinar organised by the EIFL consortium in collaboration with the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) to examine the Copyright Act signed into law last year, on 15th May 2024.

Making a presentation at the webinar themed: The Nigeria Copyright Act, the best Copyright law in the world for libraries?, the EIFL Analyst and Resource person, Mr. Jonathan Band, acknowledged the NCC Act 2022 as the best in Africa and possibly the world adding that the provisions of the Act align with core library exceptions, making it a model for other countries.

Mr. Band, further gave an overview of the objectives of the Act and general exceptions to Copyright with focus on the special provisions for Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums (GLAMs).
Speaking at the event, Director-General NCC, Dr. John O. Asein, commended EIFL for their contributions to the passage of the Copyright Bill and highlighted the importance of librarians in promoting responsible use of the copyright protected works. He noted that copyright resources are essential materials used by librarians in performing their public service in the area of supporting teaching, learning, research and the preservation of knowledge.

Dr. Asein, emphasised the need for stakeholders to collaborate to develop tools that raise awareness about copyright infringement and achieve a balanced copyright system.
“The copyright ecosystem has always been confronted with how to reconcile the competing and often conflicting interest of its numerous stakeholders, fortunately, the new Copyright Act provides clear objectives which guides us in the interpretation and implementation of the provisions” He stated
The DG assured stakeholders of the Commission’s commitment to disseminating copyright knowledge and enforcing the Act in a responsible manner that respects authors’ rights and promotes a balanced approach.
Associate Professor and IP expert, Desmond Oriakhogba corroborated Dr. Asein’s position, stating that the Act will help Nigeria navigate issues of access to information and also serve as a model for other African countries.

The EIFL, works with libraries to enable access to knowledge for education, learning, research and sustainable community development. It partners libraries and library consortia, which are groups of libraries that share common goals and can speak with one voice to policymakers and funders. They typically include universities, research and public libraries, and other institutions. EIFL currently works with library consortia in 40 countries in Africa, Asia Pacific and Europe, representing more than 3,000 libraries.

Amos Abutu
For: Director-General