School proprietors who are found distributing or patronising pirated books would, henceforth, be arrested and prosecuted, Director-General, Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), Dr. John O. Asein, has cautioned.
Dr. Asein gave this warning while speaking on Brekete Family Reality Talk Magazine Programme during a copyright advocacy visit to Human Rights Radio 101.1 FM and Television Station, in Abuja recently.
Reading the riot act, the Director-General stated that the Commission was intensifying its antipiracy campaign against all forms of copyright piracy, particularly in the book industry, as schools resume for the new academic session.
According to him, it was incumbent on school proprietors, principals, heads of schools and those responsible for the management of schools to ensure that they patronised accredited publishers’ representatives and booksellers to avoid falling into the hands of unscrupulous elements with intent to channel pirated books through the book system.
The Director-General also urged the public to support the efforts of the Commission by reporting any suspicious activities of printers, booksellers and warehouses, especially in residential areas. He advised them to avoid street traders.
While enlightening the public on the Commission’s mandates, he stressed the importance of intellectual property (IP), particularly copyright, to the socio-economic development of the country and expressed concern that piracy constituted a major challenge to the creative industry. He lamented that billions of Naira were being lost annually to the nefarious activities of pirates and those he described as enemies of IP growth.
The Director-General proposed more collaboration among the agencies responsible for IP matters, to provide a one-stop-shop for better service delivery and prompt response to the needs of the creative and innovative Nigerians. He also commended the Nigeria Customs Services (NCS), Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and other enforcement and security agencies for supporting the Commission in the national antipiracy campaign.
He expressed the Commission’s appreciation to the Executive Media Strategist and Chief Executive Officer of Human Rights Radio and Television, Dr. Ahmad Isah, a.k.a. “Ordinary President”, for his show of support for the creative industry and the activities of the Commission. The Ordinary President had offered to assist the Commission with free public awareness opportunities and copyright advocacy jingles on Human Rights Radio and Television.
Speaking earlier, the Ordinary President, Dr. Ahmad Isah admonished the public to support the efforts of the Commission and respect intellectual property. He urged the Commission to step up its copyright education and enlightenment efforts to acquaint Nigerians with the immense opportunities that abound in the field.
Vincent A. Oyefeso
For: Director-General
+234-8051143736, +234-8033244478, +234-9019013008
vincentoyefeso@yahoo.com; vincentoyefeso@gmail.com
Captions of an Advocacy Visit of Director-General, Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) to Brekete Family Reality Programme on Human Rights Radio and TV Station, in Abuja Recently
Pic 1: On arrival on a copyright advocacy visit at the Human Rights Radio 101.1 FM and TV Station, in Abuja recently, the Director-General, Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), Dr. John O. Asein exchanges pleasantries with the station’s Executive Media Strategist and CEO, Dr. Ahmed Isah, aka Ordinary President, shortly before featuring on the Brekete Family Reality Programme of the station.
Pic 2: DG, NCC, Dr. John O. Asein, during an advocacy visit to the Human Rights Radio 101.1 FM and TV Station, in Abuja recently.
Pic 3: Director-General, NCC, Dr. John O. Asein (In front, with mic) with the studio audience during a live session of the Brekete Family Reality Programme on Human Rights Radio 101.1 FM and TV Station.
Pic 4: Director-General, NCC, Dr. John O. Asein addressing the studio audience during a live session of the Brekete Family Reality Programme on Human Rights Radio 101.1 FM and TV Station.
Pic 5. Anchor of Brekete Family Reality Programme and Executive Media Strategist/CEO of Human Rights Radio 101.1 FM and TV Station, Abuja, Dr. Ahmed Isah, aka Ordinary President, during a live transmission, engages with DG NCC, Dr. John O. Asein (R) in appraising the quality of PLEASURES Magazine, a publication of Dotmount Communications, run by its president and publisher, Mr. Babatunde Olaoluwa.
Pic 6: At a Brekete Family Reality Programme on Human Rights Radio 101.1 FM and TV Station, Abuja, Director-General, NCC, Dr. John O. Asein, commends the high quality of PLEASURES Magazine, a publication of Dotmount Communications, run by its president and publisher, Mr. Babatunde Olaoluwa (L).
Pic 7. Director-General, NCC, Dr. John O. Asein shakes hands with the CEO of Human Rights Radio and Television Station, Dr. Ahmed Isah a.k.a. Ordinary President of Brekete Family Reality Programme, during his advocacy visit to the station in Abuja, recently.
Pic. 8. DG, NCC, Dr. John O. Asein with a copyright stakeholder, octogenarian President of Market Women Association (MWA), Chief (Mrs.) Felicia Sani OON, during the Commission’s advocacy visit to the Human Rights Radio 101.1 FM and Television Station, Abuja 16th September 2021 in Abuja, recently.
Pic 9. DG, NCC, Dr. John O. Asein flanked by a copyright stakeholder, octogenarian President of Market Women Association (MWA), Chief (Mrs.) Felicia Sani OON,, a copyright stakeholder, octogenarian President of Market Women Association (MWA), Chief, Mrs. Felicia Sani OON, (L) and Director, Public Affairs, NCC, Mr. Vincent A. Oyefeso at the Human Rights Radio 101.1 FM and Television Station, Abuja 16th September 2021 in Abuja, recently.
Pic 10. A copyright stakeholder, octogenarian President of Market Women Association (MWA), Chief (Mrs.) Felicia Sani OON, with DG, NCC, Dr. John O. Asein (R), speaking on the need for a viable copyright system, while the Director, Public Affairs (NCC), Mr. Vincent A. Oyefeso (L); Assistant Director, Public Affairs, Miss Oyebola Oyewo (3rd R); Mrs. Mary Adegbile, Principal Information Officer, and others listen.
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Vincent A. Oyefeso
Director, Public Affairs Department
Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC)
Annex II, 2nd Floor
Federal Secretariat, Phase I
Shehu Shagari Way,
Maitama, Abuja, FCT
Mobile: +234-805 114 3736
+234-802 087 5245
+234-803 324 4478
vincent.oyefeso@copyright.gov.ng
