Dare Babalola
The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has issued a stern warning to publishers and producers of illicit books in Akwa Ibom State, cautioning against further production and distribution of counterfeit educational materials in the region.
The warning was issued by the Akwa Ibom NCC coordinator, Cornelia Ibanga, during an inspection tour of school bookshops in Uyo metropolis on Tuesday.
Ibanga noted that some schools in the state had developed a concerning trend of compromising standards by opting for pirated materials over authentic publications from reputable publishers.
The coordinator cautioned that the commission would crack down on schools distributing pirated books, warning that such institutions would face serious consequences.
“School owners should be fully vigilant; they should be cautious in order to avoid being complicit in book piracy. We advise schools to directly patronise publishers or reach out to them through their representatives and reputable book stores,” he said.
Ibanga further stated that the commission had held a series of meetings with school management on the need to comply with anti-copyright laws.
She said that the commission would continue to monitor and enforce compliance with the law in order to ensure sanity.
In his response, Jethro Fadero, the principal of Bright Star Academy in Uyo, described the sale of books to students as a distraction that schools should avoid.
Fadero urged schools to focus more on teaching rather than selling books.
“Let us give book lists to parents to source from book stores instead of selling to them,” he stated.
