IN an effort to ensure that only genuine books and reading materials are distributed in schools within Benue state, the Makurdi Office of the Commission have enlightened Booksellers and others stakeholders on how to check piracy in schools in view of the forthcoming Book Season.

The Director, Makurdi Office, (DMO), Mrs Olufunmilayo Adewale welcoming participants to the enlightenment meeting, held on 20th August 2023 informed that it is part of the Commission’s strategic engagement with critical Stakeholders to save the country’s educational system from the damning effects of piracy.

Mrs. Adewale explained that the partnership with the Stakeholders would go a long way to boost learning and protect the book industry from unwholesome activities of some publishers. She gave assurances that the Commission would ensure that authors and investors in the book industry are rewarded for their investments.

She however warned pirates and their associates that the Commission will clamp down on anyone who defies the law, adding that the Copyright Act 2022 now stipulates stringent punishments.

Speaking at the event, representative of the Makurdi Book Sellers Association, Mr. Sabinus Ezechi, thanked the DMO for the initiative and pledged their support to the Commission in curbing piracy in the country and joined other participants to unanimously agree that “piracy is a monster that must be stamped out of the book distribution chain”.

Speaking further, Mr. Ezechi requested that the efforts of NCC on protection of works be holistic and suggested that public enlightenment and sensitisation should be carried out more often.

Ewoma Adesina