From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The Federal Government has called on stakeholders to provide collective efforts and synergy that will drive the copyright industry in the country.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF), Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), made the call in Abuja on Tuesday, at a seminar organized by the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC).
Fagbemi who declared the seminar open noted that globally, copyright development is receiving significant attention and Nigeria cannot be seen to be left behind.
The AGF who was represented by the Director, Legal drafting department of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Dr. Patrick Oyong declared that the seminar will open a new vista for the country as a nation to expand the frontier “on this all important sector of our economy, called copyright.”
The seminar which is on copyright law and policy is organized for selected officials of the Federal Ministry of Justice.
Specifically, the seminar is organized for directors of the relevant professional departments, such as legal drafting, International cooperation, Solicitors, public prosecution as well as the Special Assistants to AGF and the Permanent Secretaries and Solicitor General of the Federation, Legal Advisers in copyright related ministries and agencies
Former President Muhammadu Buhari had on March 17, 2023, signed the copyright Bill into the Copyright Act 2022.
The primary aim of the Act is to among others; “protect the right of authors to ensure appropriate rewards and recognitions for their intellectual efforts, and ” provide appropriate limitations and exceptions to quarantee access to creative works.”
Speaking at the event, the Director General of the NCC, Dr. John Asein explained that the seminar is part of the sensitization programme for critical stakeholders in the copyright sector.
Dr. Asein said the objective is to acquaint staff of the ministry with global intellectual property system and it’s role in promoting creative and current issues in the enforcement of copyright.