THE Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has called on members of the Bar in the Intellectual Property (IP) terrain to leverage on the capacity building opportunities offered by the Commission for better jurisprudence in the adjudication of Copyright and IP cases.
This call was made by the Director-General, NCC, Dr. John O. Asein during a One Day Intensive Capacity Building Workshop on Copyright for members of the Nigerian Bar Association, Gwagwalada Chapter (Eagle Bar) at the Faculty of Law, University of Abuja on 8th August, 2023.
Declaring the workshop open, the DG, NCC pointed out the need for refresher programmes and interaction with IP practitioners in order to strengthen the knowledge base of members of the Bar and the Bench.
According to him, “If the Bar is not standing well, the Bench will not bring out the best of jurisprudence and if the Bar is not interrogating the law well, the academics will see that the law books are famished”. He observed that a lot of IP cases that have gone to court would have been settled if lawyers knew the length and boundary of IP, adding that refresher programmes will help keep lawyers abreast of new issues.
Dr. Asein, while calling for more synergy between the Bar and the Commission in the light of the Copyright Act 2022 that came into force on 17th March 2023, urged lawyers to understand the tenets of the new Act, its amendments and how they stand to project them in an articulate manner. He assured of the Commission’s readiness to assist lawyers on Copyright related cases to facilitate good adjudication.
The Chairman, NBA, Gwagwalada Chapter, Emmanuel Tayo Ogunjide, Esq. in his welcome address, commended the NCC Management for the immense support towards the organisation of the capacity building workshop. He noted that the subject of Copyright being discussed at the workshop is crucial to the career of members.
Mr. Ogunjide expressed the enthusiasm of members in hosting the workshop as it is in line with the policy focus of the current Branch Executive to build people, career and facilitate educational development of members.
Corroborating the DG, NCC’s position on the necessity of refresher programmes for lawyers in the IP sector, a former Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Abuja, Prof. Kasim Musa Waziri, maintained that it is expedient for lawyers in practice to have an understanding of IP because the area is fertile. ‘It looks simple but with technicalities, the knowledge is needed because there are serious issues and if lawyers are not equipped it affects the Judges’.
Highlights of the capacity building workshop are the presentations on: ‘General Overview of Copyright and Related Rights in Nigeria’ by Director, NCA, Mr. Collins Nweke; ‘Understanding Exceptions and Limitations, Infringements, Actions and Remedies under the Copyright Act’ by Director, Operations, NCC, Mr. Obi Ezeilo; ‘Copyright Issues in the Digital Environment: Challenges and Opportunities’ by Director, Regulatory and Compliance, Mr. Mike Akpan and ‘WIPO Services and Capacity Building Opportunities for Young Lawyers’ by the Representative of the Head, WIPO Nigeria Office, Ms Victoria Onyeagbako.
The highly interactive workshop was organised by the Commission in collaboration with the NBA Gwagwalada Chapter and WIPO Nigeria Office.

Amos Abutu
For: Director-General