—– Says, originality remains the backbone of credible writing and sustainable creativity.

The Chairman, Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Enugu State Branch, Dr. Ada Nwoye made this known while speaking on the topic “The Business of Books/writing: Making a Living as a Nigerian Author in a Depressed Economy,” on the programme, Beyond the Headlines on Freedom Square TV, anchored by Uchenna Cyril Anioke.

Dr. Nwoye, called on writers, publishers, and relevant authorities to uphold originality in creative works while condemning the growing menace of piracy in the literary and academic sectors.

She lamented that piracy not only robs authors of the rewards of their hard work but also discourages innovation and lowers standards in the publishing industry.

According to her, “ piracy is a cankerworm and I think you are at the forefront against piracy… but I don’t think that the much that has been done has succeeded in totally leaping out that scourge “piracy.” you see someone who is managing to recoup the funds invested in his work finding his book in the market being sold for next to nothing. It is very heartbreaking, it shouldn’t be. A few years ago, I have a mentor, Prof. Nwangwu. His books were selected as textbooks for a particular class, I think for JSS3. The first year he sold so much, he sold 10,000 copies. By the following year the pirates had flooded the books at almost half of the price in the market. So what he did to fight them was that he went to the ministry and demanded that his book be removed from the recommended texts. I don’t want my books among the recommended texts and he was obliged. Then the pirates couldn’t sell.”

Dr. Nwoye berated individuals and groups involved in the illegal reproduction and distribution of books and written materials, describing the act as unethical and harmful to national development.

In her words, “ embrace and encourage originality because when you look for a cheap script. It is very disturbing. Reach out to the young people, encourage them to keep writing. You grow by reading and then the more you write, the more you get better at it. The other day, we heard that Australia had banned children under 16 years from using social media, and I saw on CNN how angry the children were. Some said this is were their lives. One said the online community was the only community she had. I don’t understand it.”

Nwoye emphasized that societies that fail to protect creative works risk stifling knowledge growth and cultural advancement.

She called on government agencies and regulatory bodies to enforce existing copyright laws and introduce stiffer penalties for offenders to serve as a deterrent.

Nwoye equally urged educational institutions and the general public to promote respect for intellectual property by supporting original authors and patronizing legitimate publications.

She therefore expressed optimism that with collective commitment from stakeholders, piracy could be drastically reduced, paving the way for a more vibrant, innovative, and respected writing and publishing environment in Nigeria