In a remarkable convergence of intellect, policy dialogue, and international collaboration, leading figures from Nigeria’s education, publishing, and copyright sectors gathered in Ibadan for a high-level Stakeholders Awareness Meeting and Board Session of the Reproduction Rights Society of Nigeria (REPRONIG).
Held at the serene Mahogany Hotels and Suites in Jericho, the hybrid event drew participants from across Nigeria and around the world, transforming the venue into a vibrant hub of knowledge exchange, policy reflection, and advocacy for stronger copyright compliance within Nigeria’s higher education system.
Anchored with professional finesse by Mr. Tosin Akeredolu, Acting Executive Secretary of REPRONIG, the gathering attracted a wide spectrum of stakeholders including scholars, publishers, librarians, university administrators, and copyright experts.
Through global copyright networks, the meeting also welcomed virtual participants from several countries, reflecting the growing international interest in Nigeria’s evolving copyright management landscape.
The roll call of participants reflected the breadth of institutional representation and the growing coalition of stakeholders rallying around copyright awareness in Nigeria.
Among those present were Prof. A.O. Omobowale of the University of Ibadan representing the Vice-Chancellor; Emeritus Prof. Olu Obafemi, a board member and immediate past chairman of REPRONIG, Dr. Gideon O. Bamigboye of Abiola Ajimobi Technical University; Obia Ogosi Ofem, CEO of Hebron Consulting; Dr. John Asein, Director-General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission; Dr. Usman O. Akanbi, President of the Association of Nigerian Authors ANA); Dr. Uchenna C. Anioke, past president of the Nigerian Publishers Association; Dr. Sam O.; Dr. Wale Okediran, Secretary-General of the Pan African Writers Association and Chairman, Central Working Committee); Camillus Ukah, former president of ANA; Alhaji Lukman Dauda, NPA president; Dr. R.O. Akinbode; Mr. Akeredolu Tosin of Accessible Publishers Limited; Mrs. Tokunbo-Ishola, Head of Station, Oxygen FM; Dr. Lanre Osanyi, University Librarian of Lead City University; Prof. Jellili Ojuade, Vice-Chancellor of Ojaja University; Mrs. Yomi Ogunlari, board member; and Olufemi Timothy Ogunyejo, Registrar of Best In Print Academy, Mr. Dapo Adebayo, Mr. Fola Akinlose, Okeleye Oreoluwa, Oluwakemi Jagunmolu, Oyeyele Oluwakemi, Arikalamu Busayo, Adebisi Adeyinka, Samson Bamidele, Adebowale Adeleye, among numerous other physical and virtual participants.
In his welcome address, the Chairman of REPRONIG, Mr. Gbadega Adedapo, set the tone by describing copyright management as the silent engine that powers creativity, research, and academic publishing. He emphasised that copyright is the foundation upon which authorship, research integrity, and sustainable creative enterprise are built, and explained that REPRONIG bridges the gap between creators and institutions through structured licensing arrangements that ensure authors and publishers receive fair compensation.
Dr. John Asein Director General, of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) echoed these sentiments, describing REPRONIG as a strategic institution within Nigeria’s copyright ecosystem and urging universities, polytechnics, and research institutions to strengthen collaboration through institutional licensing agreements and sustained awareness programmes.
Prof. A.O. Omobowale, representing the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prok. K. O. Adebowale FAS (mni) affirmed the importance of protecting intellectual labour, encouraging universities to embrace licensing arrangements that safeguard intellectual property while promoting responsible access to learning resources.
Dr. Usman O. Akanbi, ANA President, stressed that writers are the primary producers of the knowledge ecosystem and called for collaboration among authors, publishers, universities, and copyright institutions to ensure sustainable creative and academic growth.
Dr. Lanre Osanyi, University Librarian at Lead City University, highlighted the role of librarians in promoting ethical access to information and supporting REPRONIG’s advocacy for responsible use of copyrighted works.
The summit also took on a distinctly international dimension. Anders Kr. Rasch, CEO of Copydan Writing, Denmark’s reprographic rights organisation, shared insights on building one of the world’s most efficient licensing systems. He highlighted Denmark’s blanket licensing arrangements for universities, businesses, and public institutions, stressing that trust, transparency, and accountability underpin the system and ensure fair compensation for authors and publishers.
From a pan-African perspective, Mr. Joseph Gyamfi, Executive Director of CopyGhana, illustrated Ghana’s successful experience with private copy remuneration and licensing in tertiary institutions. He demonstrated that structured agreements between universities and copyright organisations strengthened academic publishing while providing financial support for authors, showing that well-coordinated licensing systems could thrive within African contexts when governments, universities, and rights organisations work collaboratively.
Antonios Baris, Legal, Policy, and Technology Counsellor of the International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organisations, provided a global lens by explaining that collective management organisations operate in over 90 countries, representing more than two million authors and publishers. He emphasised that such organisations are critical to negotiating licensing agreements, collecting and processing copyright data, and distributing royalties, and that these principles are foundational to sustainable creative industries worldwide.
Adding to the global discourse, Mr. Olav Stokkmo, consultant to World Intellectual Property Organization and IFRRO, stressed that education depends on access to copyright works and that collective licensing is one of the most efficient mechanisms for managing use of copyrighted educational materials.
He highlighted the WIPO–IFRRO Reprography Project, designed to strengthen reproduction rights organisations in developing regions, particularly Africa, noting that transparency, efficiency, reliable data management, and fairness in royalty distribution are essential for thriving knowledge economies.
The session was highly interactive, with participants asking questions for clarification on licensing frameworks, royalty distribution, and practical implementation in educational institutions. Experts provided detailed responses, helping to clear doubts and deepen understanding.
A major highlight was the announcement by Prof. Jellili Ojuade, Vice-Chancellor of Ojaja University, Ilorin, that the institution had signed a licensing agreement with REPRONIG, a giant move that challenges other Nigerian universities. He urged both public and private institutions to emulate this model and called on REPRONIG to extend advocacy to influential academic bodies, emphasizing that collective participation would strengthen the national copyright culture.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Wale Okediran, Secretary-General of the Pan African Writers Association, lauded the organisers for convening a timely and enlightening forum. He emphasised that success in copyright management depends on collaboration across all stakeholders. Importantly, he clarified that recent Federal Government funds released were not for REPRONIG members exclusively but for association members, urging stakeholders to submit well-thought-out proposals to ensure efficient and transparent use of the resources.
Dr. Okediran encouraged all participants to act as ambassadors of copyright awareness, promoting collective action that aligns institutional, authorial, and governmental efforts.
As the summit concluded, a powerful consensus emerged: building a strong copyright culture anchored in collaboration, transparency, and shared responsibility is essential for the sustainability of Nigeria’s knowledge economy.
The Ibadan gathering was more than a conference; it was a call to action, urging universities, authors, publishers, librarians, policymakers, and international partners to unite in strengthening the architecture of knowledge production in Nigeria.
(Olufemi Timothy Ogunyejo
for REPRONIG Media Team)