Experts in Reprographic management in Europe and Africa said Nigeria can reap better economic benefits as a member of the Repographic Rights Organization (RRO) than it’s present performance.
Members of the International Federation of Reprographic Rights Organizations (IFRRO), Consultant for Policy and Communication, Sarah Tran; Consultant on WIPO-IFRRO Project, Olav Stokmmo; and Chairperson, IFRRO African Committee and CEO of Copyright Society of Malawi (COSOMA), Dora Makwinja, and Executive Director, CopyGhana, Joseph Gyamfi, made this known at the 22nd edition of the Nigeria International Book Fair 2023.
Disappointed by Nigeria’s inability to take the lead in reproduction rights, Makwinja said smaller countries in Africa like Malawi, with the proper structures in place, reaps over $240,000 annually from reproduction rights sector.
In their virtual crash course on reproduction rights hosted by the experts for Nigerian writers and publishing stakeholders at the event, the experts while providing the global perspectives on the advantages of being part of IFRRO, outlined the cross-border rewards available to creatives. They urged current executives of the Reproduction Rights Society of Nigeria (REPRONIG) to be more proactive in ensuring that members reap the rewards of their creative endeavours, heretofore hindered by the inefficiencies and shortcomings of its previous leaders in managing the rights of its members.
Head of new leadership at REPRONIG, and CEO Accessible Publishers Ltd, Gbadega Adedapo, pledged to build on the achievement of his predecessors and rectify the management of reproduction rights of Nigerian authors and publishers. This is in addition to drumming up awareness on the RRO to stakeholders in Nigeria’s book ecosystem, hence its organizing the workshop Reproduction Rights: Concepts, Perspectives and Benefits for the Nigerian Book Industry, in collaboration with the National Copyright Commission (NCC).
“The significance of protecting the rights of authors and publishers cannot be overstated. By doing so, we foster a culture of creativity, innovation and knowledge dissemination. We express our gratitude to NVV for making this a reality through the recent enactment of the new Copyright Act 2022. Moreover, the recognition and protection of reproductive rights are pivotal in combating piracy, counterfeiting and unauthorized use of copyrighted material, all of which pose substantial threats to the sustainability of the book industry. By raising awareness and promoting understanding of reproduction rights, we can instill a culture of respect for intellectual property, and advance the development of a robust and sustainable book industry in Nigeria,” said Adedapo.
He urged stakeholders in the reproduction rights industry to collaborate to create a more vibrant and sustainable book industry in Nigeria.
The event also saw the unveiling of REPRONIG’s new, user-friendly website www.repronig.com as a platform for Nigerians to learn more about its activities.
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