From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) and the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) have commenced a collaborative programme that will harness the creative talents of inmates to facilitate their reformation, rehabilitation, and reintegration into society.
The programme was organised by the NCC in line with its social mandate to be responsible for all matters relating to copyright, particularly as it relates to awareness, administration, enforcement, and prosecution of offenders.
Speaking at the two-day workshop, the Director General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission, Dr. John Asein explained that the core objective of the event was to raise awareness among relevant staff and inmates of copyright, its uses, and its importance to society and encourage the inmates to engage in creative endeavours as much as they can.
The NCC Director General who was represented by the Director, of Legal Services, Emeka Ogbonna, said the objective is also to build and respect intellectual property narrowing down to copyright and to further facilitate reformation, rehabilitation, and reintegration of these inmates when they return to society.
“So, it is with these objectives that we came up with this idea, starting with staff and then inmates because we need to give them hope otherwise, most of them will believe that this is the end of the world for them.
“But just as we change the name from prison to Correctional Centre, we know it is for a purpose.
“We get the best out of them so that when they go back, they will contribute their quota to the larger society,” the DG stated.
On his part, the Comptroller General of Correctional Centre (GG-NCoS), Mr Haliru Nabana, identified the creative industry as a powerful force for positive change and economic growth.
“It is essential to not only protect the intellectual property of our artists, our writers, musicians, our creators but also to ensure that those within the custodial centres have access to educational resources that promote creativity and innovation,” Nabana noted.
The Comptroller General who was represented at the event by the Deputy Comptroller General, Inmates Training and Productivity, Sylvester Nwakuche expressed the need to recognised the potential for rehabilitation and growth within the Correctional Service system.
He disclosed that the custodial centres have individuals with diverse talents, skills, and potentials waiting to be harnessed for their personal growth and the betterment of society.
“It is against this backdrop that the knowledge of copyright and intellectual property becomes particularly relevant,” he added.
Banana said it was important to emphasise the role of the Correctional Service in promoting a culture of respect for intellectual property rights by instilling a sense of responsibility and ethics that will contribute to the development of individuals who can reintegrate into society as useful members.
He therefore charged participants to come out with strategies that would enhance the understanding and enforcement of copyright and intellectual property rights within the Correctional facilities.
“Let the workshop catalyse positive change for progress,” he admonished participants.
The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) is the main regulator and enforcer of protection against the violation of IP rights in Nigeria.
The NCC was instituted in August 1989 as the Nigerian Copyright Council through the copyright decree of 1988. At present, the Commission aims at exploiting the capacities for creativity for economic growth and advancing the development of the Nigerian creative industry through the spreading of copyright awareness, well-organised management, and safeguarding of intellectual property.