AS part of efforts to ensure that creators and allied investors in the creative industry get commensurate reward for their investments, the Enugu Office of Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has carried out series of copyright awareness campaigns, urging stakeholders and the public to respect Intellectual Property (IP) creators and their works, and support the Commission’s efforts to sanitise and check piracy in the country
Director, NCC Enugu Office, Mrs. Ngozi Cordelia Okeke made the call at different events in commemoration of this this year’s World Book and Copyright Day and World Intellectual Property (WIPO) Day, on 23rd and 26th April, respectively.
The Director, at the events, spoke on the essence of the World Book and Copyright Day and World IP Day celebrations; the important role that books and other published materials play in national growth and development; emphasizing that creativity was key to sustaining the country’s economic development.
Speaking at the Enugu State College of Education Technical (ESCET), on untapped potentials of the book and publishing industry, 23rd April 2022, the Director admonished all to shun all forms of piracy and report suspected pirates and their accomplices to the Commission.
She denounced the activities of pirates in the distribution chain of creative works which “inhibits creators from reaping full benefits of their creativity and investments in the industry”. The Director, gave assurances that the Commission has put in place policies and strategies to ensure that all pirates operating within Enugu State and environs were arrested and prosecuted.
Mrs. Okeke called on stakeholders, creators and right owners to key into programmes of the Commission like the Copyright e-Registration Scheme, explaining that with the NCC e-Registration portal, www.eregistration.copyright.gov.ng,, works were uploaded into a National Databank of Creative Works and accessible to all. She further noted that the registered works could be tendered as evidence in court “when the need arises, especially where there is a dispute of ownership”.
The Director, in company of other staff members of the Commission took the sensitisation to other events including the presentation of school books and novels to students of Graceland College Enugu where she encouraged the students to allow their creativity flourish and be good ambassadors of the Commission; at the birthday celebration of a copyright legend, Chief Chika Okpala, at his residence where she presented him with a cake, a portrait and an assurances of the Commission’s commitment to formulate policies that would strengthen the creative industry to function at par with best international practices.