The Nigerian Copyright Commission and REPRONIG have intensified efforts to combat book piracy and copyright infringement in South-East Nigeria, urging authors, publishers and academics to protect their intellectual property and claim available royalties.
The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) and the Reproduction Rights Society of Nigeria (REPRONIG) have strengthened efforts to combat book piracy and copyright infringement in South-East Nigeria, calling on authors, publishers and academics to safeguard their intellectual property rights.
The organisations reaffirmed their commitment during REPRONIG’s South-East Zonal Advocacy and Sensitisation Programme held in Enugu on Thursday, October 22, 2026.
The programme brought together authors, publishers, academics and other stakeholders in the creative industry to raise awareness about copyright protection, enforcement and remuneration for the use of intellectual works.
Speaking at the event, the Commandant of the NCC Enugu State Command, Macfoy Akachukwu, said the commission had intensified monitoring and enforcement activities to tackle piracy across the state.
Akachukwu explained that the commission regularly inspected printing houses, publishing firms and markets to identify and apprehend individuals and businesses involved in copyright infringement.
He added that the NCC had strengthened its response to online piracy following the growing use of digital platforms to reproduce and distribute copyrighted materials without authorisation.
“The commission has Online Copyright Inspectors and a Special Task Force Against Online Piracy working daily to address these challenges,” he said.
The commandant urged authors and publishers whose works had been pirated to report such cases promptly to enable the commission to investigate and take appropriate action.
He also encouraged academics and other authors to join relevant professional associations to access copyright protection services and available remuneration opportunities.
A board member of REPRONIG, Chief Uchenna Anioke, said the advocacy programme was designed to educate stakeholders in the education and creative sectors about their rights under the Nigerian Copyright Act.
Anioke explained that the initiative targeted universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, publishers, journalists, artists and other creative professionals.
He said REPRONIG was committed to helping authors and publishers exercise their secondary rights, particularly their entitlement to compensation when their works are reproduced or used beyond the original terms of publication.
“The essence of this programme is to educate stakeholders on copyright law and the role of REPRONIG in ensuring that authors and publishers benefit from the secondary use of their intellectual works,” he said.
REPRONIG consultant, Dr Samuel Owokoniran, said many Nigerian authors and publishers remained unaware of the financial benefits available to them under the country’s copyright framework.
He explained that the society’s nationwide advocacy programme was intended to bridge the information gap and encourage copyright owners to take advantage of existing remuneration opportunities.
According to Owokoniran, authors invest considerable time, money and resources in producing books but frequently lose potential earnings through unauthorised photocopying and other forms of reproduction.
“The essence of taking this programme across the country is to create awareness and ensure that rights owners benefit from their intellectual property,” he said.
Owokoniran commended the Federal Government for supporting efforts to strengthen copyright administration and enforcement in Nigeria.
He added that the activation and release of copyright levy funds had created opportunities for rights owners across different creative sectors to receive compensation.
Also speaking, Professor Sunny Udeze, a member of the Interim Executive Committee of the Academic and Non-fiction Authors Association of Nigeria (ANFAAN), expressed concern over the low level of awareness about copyright protection among academics in the South-East.
Udeze, a professor of Mass Communication, said many lecturers and textbook authors were unfamiliar with REPRONIG and ANFAAN, as well as the benefits the organisations offer in protecting intellectual property.
He explained that both associations were established to defend authors’ interests against piracy, plagiarism and the unauthorised reproduction of their works.
The professor recounted an incident in which one of his books was pirated in Akwa Ibom State, describing the experience as an example of the challenges Nigerian authors face in protecting their intellectual property.
He expressed optimism that the sensitisation programme would improve awareness and encourage more academics to join the relevant associations.
Udeze further explained that ANFAAN specifically caters to academic and non-fiction authors, including those who produce textbooks and other materials for teaching and research.
The campaign by the NCC and REPRONIG highlights the importance of stronger copyright enforcement, greater public awareness and fair remuneration in protecting Nigeria’s publishing industry and encouraging sustained investment in intellectual creativity.
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