NCC Partners ANA on Protection of Authors’ Rights

The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has pledged it’s
continued support for the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA)
towards ensuring adequate protection for the works of authors in
line with the provisions of the Copyright Act.

The Director-General of NCC, Mr. John O. Asein, gave this
assurance during deliberations with the executives of ANA on a
courtesy call at the Commission’s Headquarters in Abuja
recently.

Mr. Asein charged ANA to reach out to other critical
stakeholders to forge a formidable partnership to curb the
prevalence of book piracy in Nigeria.

He also called for the review and adoption of the National Book
Policy to address all aspects of the book sector, including rights
management and protection.

The Director-General noted that the rights of Authors in Nigeria
must be adequately protected to guarantee quality writing and
sustain a book industry that would promote quality education.

The Director-General observed that most authors were either
oblivious of their rights or were negligent in their dealings with
other players in the book chain, thereby making it easier for
pirates to have a field day exploiting their copyright protected
works while they get little or no return from their intellectual
investments.

He urged ANA to support the NCC in its bid to ensure that more
authors understood the basics of copyright and how best to check
the unwholesome practices of pirates and other parasites in the
book industry.

The Director-General further expressed displeasure that despite
the book industry being the very reason for the global emergence of
the copyright system, “literary authors do not have much to show
for their labour”. He described the visit of ANA as a wake-up call
for all stakeholder in the sector to pay more attention to the
rights of authors in the country.

While thanking Yusuf Ali, SAN for his consistent support of
authors and the activities of ANA, he called on other well-meaning
Nigerians to support the association and join the renewed effort to
make copyright work for the writer.

The National President of ANA, Dr. Camillus Chima Ukah who led
the delegation of the Association’s Executives, solicited for the
Commission’s support for the celebrations to mark the 40th
anniversary of ANA this year.

He commended the Director-General for his spirited efforts
towards the fight against piracy in the country, the high point of
which was the recent seizures of container loads of pirated books
at the Tincan Port in Lagos, resulting from the proactive
collaboration of NCC with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

Dr. Ukah noted that the unwavering efforts of the DG and his
team have impacted positively on the national anti-piracy campaign.
He assured that ANA would intensify its collaboration with the NCC
in the fight against piracy and other copyright abuses.

The Director-General gave assurance of the Commission’s support
towards the success of the 40th anniversary celebrations, promising
that “in view of the status of ANA as a critical stakeholder in the
copyright industry, the Commission will continue to initiate
relevant policies and programmes that would add value to the
association.”

Some NCC Directors in attendance were: Director, Planning,
Research and Statistics (PRS), Mr. Bitrus Dauda; Director,
Administration, Dr. Idowu Ogunkuade and Director, Public Affairs,
Mr. Vincent A. Oyefeso.

Other ANA executives present were: Vice President, Hajia Farida
Mohammed; Executive Secretary, Mr. Hycinth Obuseh; General
Secretary, Mr. Maik Ortserga; FCT Chapter Chairman, Mr. Taiwo
Akerele; Public Relations Officer North, Mr. Umar Yogiza, Jnr. and
Secretary, Chinenye Nnadigo.

The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has pledged it’s
continued support for the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA)
towards ensuring adequate protection for the works of authors in
line with the provisions of the Copyright Act.

The Director-General of NCC, Mr. John O. Asein, gave this
assurance during deliberations with the executives of ANA on a
courtesy call at the Commission’s Headquarters in Abuja
recently.

Mr. Asein charged ANA to reach out to other critical
stakeholders to forge a formidable partnership to curb the
prevalence of book piracy in Nigeria.

He also called for the review and adoption of the National Book
Policy to address all aspects of the book sector, including rights
management and protection.

The Director-General noted that the rights of Authors in Nigeria
must be adequately protected to guarantee quality writing and
sustain a book industry that would promote quality education.

The Director-General observed that most authors were either
oblivious of their rights or were negligent in their dealings with
other players in the book chain, thereby making it easier for
pirates to have a field day exploiting their copyright protected
works while they get little or no return from their intellectual
investments.

He urged ANA to support the NCC in its bid to ensure that more
authors understood the basics of copyright and how best to check
the unwholesome practices of pirates and other parasites in the
book industry.

The Director-General further expressed displeasure that despite
the book industry being the very reason for the global emergence of
the copyright system, “literary authors do not have much to show
for their labour”. He described the visit of ANA as a wake-up call
for all stakeholder in the sector to pay more attention to the
rights of authors in the country.

While thanking Yusuf Ali, SAN for his consistent support of
authors and the activities of ANA, he called on other well-meaning
Nigerians to support the association and join the renewed effort to
make copyright work for the writer.

The National President of ANA, Dr. Camillus Chima Ukah who led
the delegation of the Association’s Executives, solicited for the
Commission’s support for the celebrations to mark the 40th
anniversary of ANA this year.

He commended the Director-General for his spirited efforts
towards the fight against piracy in the country, the high point of
which was the recent seizures of container loads of pirated books
at the Tincan Port in Lagos, resulting from the proactive
collaboration of NCC with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

Dr. Ukah noted that the unwavering efforts of the DG and his
team have impacted positively on the national anti-piracy campaign.
He assured that ANA would intensify its collaboration with the NCC
in the fight against piracy and other copyright abuses.

The Director-General gave assurance of the Commission’s support
towards the success of the 40th anniversary celebrations, promising
that “in view of the status of ANA as a critical stakeholder in the
copyright industry, the Commission will continue to initiate
relevant policies and programmes that would add value to the
association.”

Some NCC Directors in attendance were: Director, Planning,
Research and Statistics (PRS), Mr. Bitrus Dauda; Director,
Administration, Dr. Idowu Ogunkuade and Director, Public Affairs,
Mr. Vincent A. Oyefeso.

Other ANA executives present were: Vice President, Hajia Farida
Mohammed; Executive Secretary, Mr. Hycinth Obuseh; General
Secretary, Mr. Maik Ortserga; FCT Chapter Chairman, Mr. Taiwo
Akerele; Public Relations Officer North, Mr. Umar Yogiza, Jnr. and
Secretary, Chinenye Nnadigo.