BY OLANREWAJU AGIRI
The Reproduction Rights Society of Nigeria (REPRONIG) held a historic Stakeholders Awareness Meeting and Board Session in Ibadan on Thursday, March 5, 2026, which marked a significant advancement in copyright awareness and collective licensing in Nigeria’s higher education sector.
Scholars, publishers, authors, librarians, university administrators, and international copyright specialists came together for the hybrid summit, as reported by Olufemi Timothy Ogunyejo, a member of the REPRONIG Media Team at Mahogany Hotels and Suites in Jericho. They were all brought together by a common objective: encouraging the responsible use of copyrighted materials and bolstering Nigeria’s knowledge ecosystem. Participants joined digitally and in person, demonstrating interest in Nigeria’s changing copyright management environment on a worldwide scale.
The event was expertly coordinated by Mr. Tosin Akeredolu, Acting Executive Secretary of REPRONIG, ensuring seamless interaction among participants and facilitating high-level discussions on licensing, intellectual property protection, and sustainable creative enterprise.
The gathering featured an impressive roll call of stakeholders, including Prof. A.O. Omobowale of the University of Ibadan representing the Vice-Chancellor; Emeritus Prof. Olu Obafemi, 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 (NCC); Dr. Usman O. Akanbi, President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA); Dr. Uchenna C. Anioke.
Others include the past President of the Nigerian Publishers Association; Dr. Wale Okediran, Secretary-General of the Pan African Writers Association and Chairman of the Central Working Committee; Mr. Kunle Olatunji, Deputy Director and Head of Regulatory and Compliance Department, NCC; Camillus Ukah, former ANA President; Alhaji Lukman Dauda, President of the Nigerian Publishers Association; Dr. R.O. Akinbode; Mr. Tosin Akeredolu, Head of Licensing Unit, REPRONIG;
The event also have in attendance: 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, Ilorin; Mrs. Yomi Ogunlari, REPRONIG Board Member; Olufemi Timothy Ogunyejo, Registrar of Best In Print Academy; and other key stakeholders, alongside numerous virtual participants.
In his welcome address, REPRONIG Chairman, Mr. Gbadega Adedapo, described copyright management as the silent engine driving creativity, academic research, and publishing.He highlighted REPRONIG’s role in bridging creators and institutions, providing structured licensing arrangements that ensure fair remuneration for authors and publishers while enabling responsible access to copyrighted works in universities.
Dr. John Asein, Director-General of NCC, reaffirmed the strategic importance of REPRONIG within Nigeria’s copyright ecosystem and urged educational institutions to adopt licensing agreements and awareness programmes to strengthen compliance, while Dr. Lanre Osanyi highlighted the critical role of librarians in promoting ethical access to information and supporting REPRONIG’s advocacy on responsible use of copyrighted works.
Prof. A.O. Omobowale, representing the University of Ibadan, stressed the importance of safeguarding intellectual labour and encouraged universities to adopt licensing frameworks that protect creators’ rights while promoting access to learning resources. Dr. Usman O. Akanbi, ANA President, underscored the central role of writers in Nigeria’s knowledge ecosystem and called for collaboration among authors, publishers, universities, and copyright institutions to sustain creative productivity.
The summit featured strong international contributions. Anders Kr. Rasch, CEO of Copydan Writing, Denmark, shared lessons from Denmark’s efficient blanket licensing system, stressing transparency, trust, and accountability as pillars of success. Mr. Joseph Gyamfi, Executive Director of CopyGhana, presented Ghana’s experience with private copy remuneration in tertiary institutions, illustrating how structured collaboration strengthens academic publishing while ensuring fair compensation for authors.
Antonios Baris, Legal, Policy, and Technology Counsellor of IFRRO, highlighted the global role of collective management organisations, representing over two million authors and publishers across 90 countries. Mr. Olav Stokkmo, WIPO and IFRRO consultant, emphasised that education relies heavily on access to copyright works and that collective licensing is key to sustainable knowledge economies.
The summit included a lively Q&A session, where participants sought clarification on licensing frameworks, royalty distribution, and implementation strategies. Experts provided detailed responses, deepening stakeholders’ understanding of collective copyright management.
A highlight of the event was the announcement by Prof. Jellili Ojuade, Vice-Chancellor of Ojaja University, Ilorin, that his institution had signed a licensing agreement with REPRONIG, a major step that sets a benchmark for other universities. Prof. Ojuade encouraged both public and private institutions to emulate the model and urged REPRONIG to intensify advocacy across academic networks.
In closing, Dr. Wale Okediran, Secretary-General of the Pan African Writers Association and Chairman of the Central Working Committee, commended REPRONIG for convening a timely, impactful forum. He stressed that successful copyright management requires collaboration among authors, publishers, universities, and government institutions, and urged participants to act as ambassadors of copyright awareness within their professional communities.
As the summit concluded, participants reached a consensus: building a strong copyright culture in Nigeria requires transparency, collaboration, and shared responsibility.
For REPRONIG, the Ibadan summit represents a critical milestone in promoting collective licensing, protecting intellectual labour, and ensuring authors and publishers receive fair value for their creative contributions.
The gathering was more than a meeting; it was a call to action for universities, authors, publishers, librarians, policymakers, and international partners to strengthen Nigeria’s knowledge economy through collective, responsible, and ethical copyright practices.
