Authors from across the South-West region and Kwara State have converged on Ibadan, Oyo State, for a two-day capacity-building workshop on copyrights, reproduction rights, and royalties management organised by the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) in collaboration with the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC).
The workshop, which commenced on Wednesday at Elders Place, Basorun Road, Ibadan, is aimed at strengthening authors’ understanding of intellectual property protection and equipping them with practical skills to safeguard their creative works in an increasingly digital and competitive literary environment.
Participants at the programme include Chairmen and Secretaries of ANA chapters from Oyo, Lagos, Osun, Ekiti, Ondo, Ogun and Kwara states.
The organisers said in a press statement that the selected participants are expected to serve as copyright ambassadors in their respective chapters by sharing the knowledge and skills acquired during the workshop with other authors and creative practitioners.
Speaking at the opening session, the Oyo State Director of the NCC, Mrs. Christiana Oluropo Oke, is expected to provide participants with a comprehensive overview of Nigeria’s copyright laws, highlighting the rights and legal protections available to authors under existing legislation.
The session will also examine the role of the NCC in protecting literary and creative works against piracy, infringement, and other forms of unauthorised exploitation.
A major highlight of the workshop is the focus on reproduction rights and secondary rights, with participants being exposed to the legal framework governing the reproduction of literary works and the Commission’s licensing and enforcement mechanisms.
Discussions are also expected to address contemporary challenges confronting authors, particularly issues relating to piracy, unauthorised copying, and the digital dissemination of copyrighted materials.
In addition, the NCC team will facilitate practical sessions on intellectual property protection strategies, copyright registration procedures, and advisory services available to authors seeking to protect their creative outputs.
Participants will also undertake hands-on registration exercises designed to provide practical guidance on copyright documentation, registration processes, and compliance requirements.
According to the organisers, the workshop forms part of ANA’s broader commitment to promoting professionalism within the literary sector and empowering Nigerian authors with the knowledge and tools required to maximise the value of their intellectual property.
The initiative is also expected to strengthen awareness of collective management systems, royalties administration, and best practices for protecting literary works in Nigeria’s rapidly evolving creative industry.
