The Nigeria copyright (NCC) commission and interested parties in the creative industry have reformulated the need for a strict application of copyright laws to protect intellectual property owners (IP).
This was one of the key resolutions during a special program organized by the NCC to commemorate on the 2025 Intellectual Property (IP) Day day on Wednesday in Ibadan.
World Intellectual Property Day is traditionally celebrated on April 26 to highlight the importance of protecting the rights of creative people.
This year's theme, “IP and music: Feel The Beat of IP”, focuses on how creativity and innovation, backed by IP rights, maintain a prosperous music industry that benefits everyone.
The general director of the NCC, Dr. John Asein, said the subject was suitable, noting that music has evolved beyond mere entertainment.
According to Asein, music is the living beat of the cultural identity, expression and economy of Nigeria.
Represented by the Coordinator of the state of Oyo de NCC, Mrs. OLuropo Oke said: “Every year, World Intellectual Property Day offers us a unique opportunity to celebrate creativity that shapes our world and the role played by IP rights to encourage innovation and cultural growth.
“In line with our mandate, in the NCC we remain committed to strengthening the copyright system, promoting intersectoral collaboration, improving execution mechanisms and raising awareness about the value of intellectual property.”
Also speaking, the general director of the Copyright Musical Society of Nigeria (MCSN), Mayowa Ayilaran, emphasized the need for continuous awareness campaigns to educate IP creators about their rights and how to seek due compensation.
“Without adequate knowledge of legal protections for intellectual property, creators run the risk of producing in a loss,” he said.
The main speaker, Dr. Kehinde Faniyi of the Department of Music, the Ibadan Polytechnic, urged musicians and other creatives to adopt intellectual property laws, which contain provisions that help them ensure their rights.
Faniyi also encouraged content creators to align with their professional bodies.
According to her, professional associations in the creative industry work in close collaboration with collective management organizations (CMOS), which are legally trained to license creative works and collect royalties.
Party, Mr. Taiwo Omotunde, governor of the Association of Nigerian Performing Musicians Employers (PMAN), a chapter of the state of Oyo, asked security agencies and relevant government agencies to guarantee the complete application of the copyright law of 2022.
“The level of application of the rights and privileges of the creators of IP is still low in Nigeria,” he said.
“PMAN will continue working with the security agencies of NCC, means and security to increase the defense of fair compensation and the protection of creative works.”
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