NCC, NBA Boost Nigeria’s Creative Industry
Partner on effective service delivery
Support for LAFTA initiative
BY VICTOR OSOWOCHI – The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) and Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) are set for a strong partnership that will provide legal assistance for copyright owners under the Lawyers Advocacy for The Artiste (LAFTA) initiative.
The renewed collaboration aims at strengthening the copyright section of NBA for the benefit of Nigeria’s creative industry.
Speaking at a webinar training on “Exploring the Legal Framework of Copyright Protection in Nigeria” organised by the Abuja Branch of the NBA, Director General of NCC, Mr John O. Asein, said the Commission is ready to partner with individual lawyers, firms and the relevant sections of NBA to raise copyright knowledge and equip Nigerian lawyers with the needed tools and skill sets to perform their constitutional roles.
The training is part of NBA’s Abuja Inter-Agency Discussion Series 3 in collaboration with NCC and Asein explained that when passed into law, the draft Copyright Bill would assist in providing required legislative framework to handle digital and online copyright issues
The NCC boss said; “We realise the need to grow the Copyright Bar and promote active copyright practice as this would translate to better cases and ultimately ensure sound copyright jurisprudence.”
According to him, NCC will not relent in promoting the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism to speedily address copyright disputes as well as other peculiar needs of the industry
He said lawyers the world over are crucial in developing wholesome copyright systems on a sustainable basis, adding that; “As professionals, they are best equipped to assist in promoting, protecting and enforcing the rights of creators”.
The Director General said lawyers must work on providing adequate support to grow the country’s creative sector.
For Asein; “The Nigerian creative sector holds a lot of promise as one of the leading contributors to the nation’s GDP and the NBA would be contributing significantly to the economic development of the country if its members partner with industry practitioners.”
On the growing number of lawyers now interested in intellectual property area, particularly copyright, the Commission boss noted that the last two decades has been remarkable, but agreed more work is still required to build capacity and encourage specialisation.
He said Nigeria’s copyright industry offers huge potential as a rich and inexhaustible resource that properly tapped and harnessed can generate great wealth; provide employment; and grow the nation’s non-oil sector of the economy.
Mr Asien, represented by the Director of Nigerian Copyright Academy (NCA), Mr Michael Akpan, charged lawyers to take advantage of the Copyright e-registration scheme by advising their clients to submit their works for registration.
He commended the NBA executives and participants for their efforts at ensuring the training succeeded, noting that the e-registration scheme is necessary to expand the database of authors and their works.
He further explained that the portal would be accessible to members of the public and facilitate a global platform for the exchange of vital information on Nigerian creative works.
He challenged all stakeholders to continue supporting NCC’s regulatory and enforcement activities, stressing that the copyright industry growth is dependent on effective partnership with every sector, including lawyers.
“There is no way the NCC can succeed without active collaboration with stakeholders both in terms of sharing information on developments around them, supporting the commission in tangible ways and also advising on the best way to go. There will always be space for stakeholder participation in moulding the policies and programmes of the commission”, the Director General said.
Presentations at the event were: “An Overview of the Framework of Protection and Enforcement of Copyright in Nigeria”; “Copyright Issues in the Digital Environment: Challenges and Prospects”; and “NCC Rights Management Initiatives: An Overview of the Copyright e-Registration System.”
Facilitators during the training were: Professor Adewole Adedeji, Head, Department of International Law, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; Dr. Kunle Ola, Senior Lecturer, Australian Catholic University and Mr. Michael Akpan.
Moderators of the sessions were Chairman of NBA Abuja Inter-Agency Relations Committee, Noah Snare, and another Committee member Eriobu-Aniede Onyekachi
