IN line with the Federal Government’s efforts to diversify the economy, the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has called on youths and students to make a career of their intellectual creativity and copyright.
Director-General, NCC, Dr. John O. Asein stated this on 18th October 2022, during a Copyright Sensitisation Workshop for Students of Government Secondary Schools (GSS), Wuse, Zone 3, Abuja, one of a series of such workshops being organised by the Nigerian Copyright Academy (NCA).
Represented by the Director, NCA, Mr. Mike Akpan, the DG urged youths to respect copyright and shun all forms of piracy and intellectual theft.
He noted that there were so many viable opportunities in intellectual creativity and copyright sectors, including music, writing, poetry, computer programming, dancing, acting, sculptor and painting; adding that these are works of creativity, also known as copyright works that emanate from natural talents.
The DG explained that part of the NCC’s mandate was to protect copyright works, encourage people to express and explore their intellectual creativity and to enlighten the public to understand the output of copyright works and the opportunities it poses for personal wellbeing and the socioeconomic growth of the society.
“Part of our job is to sensitise people about copyright and to inculcate in them the value of respect for people’s Intellectual Property and a critical component of our target audience are young people like you who are growing into the society to become the leaders of societies. We want you to imbibe the positive attribute of respect for the intellect and for the creative output of people like you, because we know you are full of creativity”, he remarked.
He stressed: “…It is also to encourage you as young mights not to be shy in pursuing your ambitions in intellectual creativity, those who can sing should pursue their ambition in singing; those who can play should pursue their ambition in acting; those who can write should pursue their ambition in writing poems and novels and those who are into computer programs should increase their efforts to keep producing computer programs”.
While appreciating the authorities of Government Secondary School, Wuse, Zone 3 and FCT Secondary Education Board (SEB) for the approval to carry out the sensitisation, the DG, NCC noted that the Commission hoped to subsequently use the sensitisation exercise as a platform to get its creative ambassadors to provide enlightenment and mentorship to school students and youths.
In his response, the Vice Principal, Administration, G.S.S Wuse, Zone 3 Mr. Salawu Tajudeen I thanked the DG, NCC and the entire team for taking time to inculcate knowledge on the students and made am appeal for the Commission to consider visiting the school again.
Speaking at the event, a resource person, Assistant Chief Copyright Officer (ACCO), Mr. Caleb Daniel tutored the students on the Basics of Copyright; which was followed by a Question-and-Answer session; and a Quiz and Prize presentation session.
Others at the workshop include Officers from the F.C.T. SEB, Co-Curricular Unit, NGO Division, Ms. Oby Onuora-Oguno and Ms. Grace Philip; Librarian, G.S.S. Wuse Zone 3, Mrs. Zubair B. Rabi; Principal Copyright Officer (PCO), Mrs. Jummai Shelleng; Principal Copyright Officer, Mr. Olayinka Lawal and Chief Clerical Officer, Mr. Bolaji Ijomah.
Mary Adegbile
For: Director-General
