Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on Thursday in Ibadan, vowed to join book publishers in the fight against piracy in the society.
Makinde made the pledge at the Annual Conference and General Meeting of the Nigerian Publishers Association (NPA) held at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Ibadan.
The conference was tagged: “Reviewing the Publishing Business Model for Economic Sustainability.”
Makinde, who chaired the occasion, was represented by Mr Raman Abdu- Raheem, the state’s Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology.
The governor said he would join forces with the publishers to ensure that piracy becomes a thing of the past.
“With regards to piracy, we are ready to partner with the Nigerian Publishers Association.
“Oyo State Government is not interested in buying any book that is subjected to piracy. We always buy directly from the publishers.
“That is the only way by which we can ensure that what we are buying genuine products from the publishers,” he said.
Makinde said that piracy has adverse effects, not only on education, but also on the economy.
“It discourages productivity and creativity. It won’t encourage people to be writing books.
“Then, the publishing industry will suffer for it. Nobody will pray for that.
“That is why the Oyo State Government is doing its best to ensure that piracy is abolished.
“Without the publishers, our own policies in education will not see the light of the day and we don’t want that to happen,” he said.
The governor added that the contribution of the association to the country’s annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) could not be underestimated.
“In one way or the other, you have all contributed toward the attainment of economic and education growth in the state and the nation at large.
“Consequent upon this, Oyo State Government will continue to recognise and identify with the Nigerian Publishers Association,” he said.
The Keynote Speaker, Dr Samuel Kolawole, said that piracy was a major challenge facing publishers, in spite of other challenges like infrastructure deficits.
Kolawole, who is the Managing Director of UP Plc, said that piracy eats away the profits of the publishers.
“It is threatening the industry. Pirates don’t pay taxes. They don’t employ the number of staff we employ.
“Government must empower the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) to be able to fight piracy.
“If government works with the NCC, we will achieve success; the Nigerian Copyright Commission is doing its best, but there is very little that can be done if that organ is not funded very well.
“If it is well funded, it would do wonders.” he said.
Kolawole, also decried lack of proper regulations in the sector, which according to him, led to avalanche of poorly written books finding their ways into the classrooms.
He, therefore, called on the government to critically check the books being used in schools.
Earlier, the President of NPA, Chief Uchenna Anioke, explained that the conference was organised to chart a new path for enduring growth in the sector.
He complained that the publishing and creative industry was going through a challenging time, adding there was an absolute need to think outside the box.
“The book oils national development. A nation without books cannot develop. Any nation without books will die.
“We must not allow our nation to die. We must rise to the occasion. The time is now,” he said. (NAN)
