By ‘Segun Adegoke, Osogbo
The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has sensitized school teachers in Osun state on the dangers of piracy, saying it destroys the creative economy in Nigeria and robs creative people of their entitled income.
Director General of the Commission, Dr John Asein, said this during the week in Osogbo at a sensitization programme on the Nigerian Copyright Act of 2022.
Asein, represented by the State Coordinator of the commission in Ibadan, Oluropo Oke, said the Act defines, protects and regulates copyright in various works, whether literary, musical, artistic, audiovisual or broadcast.
The DG explained that piracy is the unauthorised reproduction of textbooks, educational materials, literary works, music, films, broadcast or digital content.
The DG emphasized that piracy encourages the production of substandard materials and steals income from the rightful owners, leading to a situation where creators get little or nothing for their hardwork.
He urged all and sundry to join the fight against piracy, especially teachers and those working in the learning environment.
“It is crucial to understand that the fight against piracy is not the sole responsibility of the Nigerian Copyright Commission or law enforcement agencies alone. It is a collective duty that begins with awareness and personal commitment,” he said.
Asein noted that the sensitisation programme was organized to equip teachers with the knowledge and tools to identify, resist, and discourage acts of piracy, both in the learning environment and in the broader society.
He said the Commission was out to let Osun teachers know the legal provisions in the Copyright Act aimed at sanitising and guiding activities of schools in the purchase and distribution of books.
“As teachers, you have a unique and powerful influence over the next generation. As educators, you stand at the very heart of knowledge creation, dissemination, and preservation.
“Your role goes beyond classroom instruction; you are custodians of intellectual integrity and models for the respect of ideas, innovations, and creative works.
“By modeling respect for intellectual property and teaching your students to value originality, you help instill values that will shape a society where creativity is protected, rewarded, and sustained.”
While describing piracy as a ‘quick fix’ for gaining access to creative materials, the DG condemned its long-term effects of damage to the value chain in the creative process.
“It discourages authors, it frustrates publishers, it dampens the spirit of innovators and erodes the quality of educational resources while also weakening the creative economy,” he lamented.
Responding, the state chairman of All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Esther Awoyemi, said the sensitisation programme was timely and would enable the teachers know the dangers of buying pirated books and how to resist it.
The Director of Curriculum, Osun State Ministry of Education, Mr Olusegun Adebayo, on his part, urged school proprietors to visit the ministry to get contacts of original authors of books.
He promised that the ministry would continue the sensitization drive in order entrench the knowledge of the dangers of piracy and how to resist it.