From Kayode Abdulazeez, Ilorin
A Professor of Performing Arts at the University of Ilorin, Abdulrasheed Adeoye has advocates for effective copyright law to boost Nigerian economy. The University teacher made this call while speaking on the merit of effective copyright laws in Nigeria. He added that effective laws would bring about springing up of original works which will add more value to the socioeconomic development of the country.
According to him, people will be encouraged to come up with new ideas because they are fully aware of knowledge reparation, adding that the upcoming authors will also develop mental positive attitude towards evolving new woks.
Professor Adeoye in a chat with newsmen in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital, pointed out the reason why copyright laws are unpopular and weak in Nigeria, alluding to fact that authors of intellectual properties refused to fight for their own rights.
He however called on original owners and authors of intellectual property in the country to brace up to challenge their rights by seeking redress in the competent court of law and stop the attitude of siting down and looking someone else infringing upon their rights.
This decision, according to him, would prevent people from unbridled access to the copyrighted materials without due permission from the original authors.
Adeoye, who is the current Head of Department of Performing Arts, University of Ilorin, said the ugly scenario would only be nipped in the bud if authors of various intellectual properties in the country rise up to the challenge and jealously guide and guard their creative works by a way of seeking redress in the competent court of law.
Adeoye who taught copyright laws for several years in the department of Performing Arts, noted that the non-implementation of copyrights laws remains a major problem in the creative sector of the country’s economy, he expressed his conviction that authors’ readiness to change the narrative will compel the government to come up with better laws that will be accompanied by adequate implementation.