THE Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has again stressed the need for more collaboration among stakeholders to regulate the printing and publishing industry in the interest of the book industry.
Director-General NCC, Dr. John O. Asein, made this remark as a Special Guest at the opening of the International Paper, Printing and Publishing Expo (IPPEX 2024), in Abuja, 6th November 2024. He also commended the organizers, DCS Integrated Media Limited and their partners for widening the scope of the annual event to focus on the international dimensions of the trade.
While acknowledging the positive impact of new technologies in an increasingly digital knowledge-driven world, Dr. Asein drew attention to the disruption that they are causing in the creative industry and the copyright ecosystem. He therefore reassured stakeholders that the Commission will not relent in its commitment to provide safer corridors for the production, distribution and commercial exploitation of copyright works for the benefit of authors and investors.
“We must provide the needed incentives for authors to create and for publishers to patronize local printers in Nigeria thereby revamping the country’s paper and printing industry,” the DG-NCC, stressed.
Meanwhile the Academia and other stakeholders in the industry have called on printers and publishers to adopt more eco-friendly materials for their productions.
Lending a voice to the call by stakeholders, the Vice Chancellor, Nasarawa State University, Prof. Sa’adatu Hassan, represented by the Deputy Director, Research and Innovation, Dr. Hauwa V. Ibrahim, urged industry players to consider the impact of the industry’s activities on the environment and partner with the academia to raise the standard of publishing in Universities. According to her, some of the expectation of universities from the industry include quality and innovation, use of cutting edge technology as well as tailored publishing solutions for accessibility and affordability.
In his keynote address on the theme of the year’s event, the CEO of Printway Limited, Mr. Alonge Kayode observed that the industry has high reaching potentials as one of the country’s highest employer of labour and that government’s intervention and support is crucial to its development.
Mr. Kayode urged regulatory agencies and industry practitioners to strengthen the collaboration between them. He identified access to funding at a single digit comparative rate, local production of raw materials and encouraging more investors as some of the areas to be addressed to boost the printing industry.
Printers and equipment vendors in the publishing and printing industry participated in the exhibition to showcase modern printing technology and share insights on transformative opportunities in the industry.
Also in attendance at the event were stakeholders: creators, the academia, representatives of government agencies, industry enthusiasts. Other Special Guests present included the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, represented by the Deputy Director, Industrial Development, Mrs. Olumuyiwa Abosede Hayi-Ade; the Executive Secretary Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), represented by Mrs. Grace Samuel; Chairman, FCT Branch of Nigerian Publishers Association (NPA), Mr. Innocent Agbanu; President/Chairman in Council, Chartered Institute of Professional Printers of Nigeria (CIPPON), represented by Comrade Babajide Salako.

Mary Avoswahi Adegbile
For: DG, NCC