The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has reiterated the importance of reading to national development,
Its Coordinator, Mrs Olabisi Ogundiran, in Ibadan Office, comprising Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti, made the remarks in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Ibadan.
Ogundiran, who spoke on the 2022 World Book and Copyright Day, said the Day, being an annual event observed on every April 23, was set aside by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to celebrate authors and encourage reading culture.
She spoke on the theme “Read… So You Never Feel Alone”.
Ogundiran said: “Reading helps one to gather information and knowledge from books and it can lead to self and national development, as well as an improved economy for Nigeria.
“In Nigeria, reading has taken a downturn, occasioned by the use of social media, which ought not to be so, especially for our children in schools.
“Being on social media is not bad, but it has to be controlled, especially for children, parents and guardians.
“We must ensure adequate protection for children when they make use of the internet, so that they will not go to unsafe sites or content that is beyond their age.
“We can use the internet for their advantage by installing educational resources on devices, so that when they are using cellphones, they are using it positively.
“This year’s celebration is to encourage all to read and to read widely, both young and old, even to the visually impaired.”
Ogundiran said NCC had been championing the course of making books available to the blind and visually impaired.
“The commission is encouraging to catch them young and ensure youths are interested in reading and so it has established book clubs and copyright clubs in primary and secondary schools.
“Reading can tailor them toward their careers and professions in life. They can also choose role models from various authors based on the books they read and this can bring about a better Nigeria,” she said.
According to her, the NCC mandate administers and protects copyright in the field of creativity for authors, publishers and film and music producers, artists and so on.
“NCC frowns at illegal and unauthorised exploration of their works and it is an infringement when trampled upon by anyone as it accrues no economic benefit to the rightful owner of such work.
“We arrest and prosecute offenders of piracy laws and promote rightful and legal exploration of creativity contents,” Ogundiran said.
