From Tony John, Port Harcourt
The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has reaffirmed its readiness to tackle the menace of piracy in the country.
Director-General (DG) of NCC, John Osien, restated the commission’s resolve during a programme to commemorate the 2024 World Book and Copyright Day in Port Harcourt.
Represented by Mrs Nkechi Ikechukwu, State Coordinator of the commission, the DG noted that the commission would redouble efforts towards curtailing piracy in the country.
“Recently, the Nigeria Customs Service at Onne in Rivers intercepted three freight containers loaded with pirated copies of books worth about N30 million belonging to Nigerian Copyright owners.
“This is a clear indication of the enormous threat of piracy to the publishing industry. We will continue to hold publishers, book printers, booksellers, book importers and librarians to the highest standard.”
The DG also called on authors, book clubs and corporate individuals to engage in book-related activities as part of corporate responsibilities so as to inculcate reading culture among youths and persons living with disabilities.
State Chairman, Nigerian Publishers Association (NPA), Mr. Adi Wale, urged the Federal Government to further strengthen the NCC to enable it to nip the problem of piracy in the bud.
He said: “It is sad that a publisher will sweat to put together a book and somebody from somewhere will eventually reap the benefits using pirated copies.
“Piracy is an intellectual corruption, which has affected education and the economy. We urge the government to strengthen the NCC to enable it to salvage the creative industry.”
On her part, Prof. Ibiere Ken-Maduako, lecturer, English Department, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, urged parents to inculcate reading habits in their young children through bedtime story reading.
Ken-Maduako, also state Chairman, Reading Association of Nigeria, urged students to adopt the 2024 theme of World Book Day “Read Your Way” to further expose themselves to books and improve their reading skills.
The programme which formed part of the 90th birthday celebration for the Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka’ was graced by students from various schools in the state and stakeholders in the book industry.
The programme also featured a reading competition on the book ‘More than ‘Aesthetics” written by Prof. Wole Soyinka.