The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has launched a year-long intervention programme, known as the ABC Action Plan, towards promoting reading for pleasure and raising awareness about copyright.
The initiative was launched on Tuesday in commemoration of this year’s World Book and Copyright Day, with the theme: ‘Read Your Way’.
Director-General of NCC, Dr. John Asein, said the programme would not only promote reading for pleasure, it will also build respect for copyright through the ABC Action Plan. Eight secondary schools and one primary school drawn across Oyo State, including schools for the blind, participated in the programme, and read from some of Prof Wole Soyinka’s books.
Asein, at the programme, which was held in Ibadan, and chaired by a renowned publisher, Prof Andrew Okwilagwe, stated that the day was set aside by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to focus on books, celebrate authors, promote reading, encourage non-discriminatory access to knowledge and raise copyright awareness.
He explained that the acronym A.B.C, focuses on three key aspects, where A stands for adopting measures to make reading more fun for all, B stands for bringing books closer to more children, and C also stands for choosing change champions for books and copyright.
Asein also called on stakeholders in the book industry to recognise July 13 as Nigeria’s National Reading Day to encourage Nigerians to read for pleasure and draw attention to some of the values that Soyinka has advanced in the literary world.
His words: “Our Nobel Laureate in Literature, playwright, essayist, literary icon and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, Professor Wole Soyinka will turn 90 on 13th July. The Commission is pleased to dedicate this year’s World Book and Copyright Day to him and will feature his works as part of the celebrations across the country.
“To bring books closer to children, the Commission will, for a start, mak copies of Soyinka’s books and other frontline titles available to 90 public schools, including Government College, Ibadan, attended by Prof Soyinka, and use the opportunity to establish more Copyright and Creativity Clubs in those schools to promote respect for copyright.”
During the event held in Ibadan on Tuesday, Soyinka’s goodwill message, delivered by Dr. Tunde Awosanmi, highlighted the importance of protecting intellectual property and he condemned piracy. He stressed that reading culture is a cornerstone of society that must be safeguarded, even in the face of conflict and division.
“As we celebrate yet another day dedicated to this product of human enlightenment, we should dedicate ourselves to the protection of this cornerstone in the intellectual edifice of humanity, across nations, races, faiths, cultures and histories.
“Even where the world persists in its impeccable strides towards a seeming destiny of self-destruction, the still, small voice of humanity refuses to be silenced, nor its zeal of mission diminished. That mission is lodged securely in the body of books, books from the ancients to the present, offering spaces of consolation and reflection even amidst the clang of the engines of hate and divisions, across the arrogance of power and conceits of national grandeur,” he said.
The keynote speaker, Dr. Sola Alimi, emphasised the strategic benefits of a strong reading culture, stating that it could lead to great accomplishments for individuals and groups. He urged parents and stakeholders to encourage children to read and set an example by doing the same.
