Minister seeks stakeholders’ synergy on copyright development
By Priscilla Osaje
The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, on Tuesday sought the stakeholders’ synergy to develop the copyright system in order to boost Nigeria’s creative economy.
The minister, who was represented by the Director, Legal Drafting Department, Mr Patrick Oyong, said this at the Seminar on Copyright Law and Policy for Officials of the Federal Ministry of Justice in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the seminar was organised by the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice.
Fagbemi said that the seminar was opening another vista for Nigerians and the country to continue to expand the frontier of knowledge on the copyright sector.
According to him, globally, copyright development is receiving significant attention and Nigeria cannot be seen to be left behind.
The minister recalled that former President Muhammadu Buhari signed the Copyright Bill into Act on March 17, 2023.
According to him, the primary aims of the Act are to protect the right of authors to ensure appropriate rewards and recognitions for their intellectual efforts.
“The Act provides appropriate limitations and expectations to guarantee access to creative works.
“It facilitates Nigerians’ compliance with obligations arising from relevant international copyright treaties and conventions.
“The Act also enhances the capacity of the Nigerian Copyright Commission for effective regulations, administration and enforcement of the provisions of the Act,” minister said.
According to him, in view of these, stakeholders’ efforts are required to provide a common synergy that will help develop the copyright industry in Nigeria.
He urged the directors and other officials of the ministry who participated in the seminar to play a supervisory role in the growth and development of the copyright in the country.
In his remarks, The Director-General of NCC, Dr John Asein, said that the main purpose of the seminar was to acquaint stakeholders in the creative industry with the global intellectual system and its role in promoting creativity and innovation.
According to him, it is also aimed at creating awareness on the mandate and activities of the commission and current issues emanated from the copyright Act.
The director-general said that the interactive meeting was to identify gap in the Copyright Act and review it to strengthen the copyright system in the country.
He said that the commission would hold the seminar on copyright law when the Act became a year old.
Participated at the seminar were directors from relevant professional departments such as Legal Drafting, International Cooperation, solicitors, public prosecution and others. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Deji Abdulwahab
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