History was made on Wednesday September 10, 2025 as stakeholders across Nigeria’s education, publishing, and copyright sectors converged online for the first-ever Webinar on Licensing of Reprographic and Similar Reproduction in Higher Education Institutions.
The high-profile event, jointly organized by the Reproduction Rights Society of Nigeria (REPRONIG), Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), the International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organisations (IFRRO), and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), drew scholars, policymakers, and copyright administrators from Nigeria and beyond.
Moderated seamlessly on Zoom by Mr. Olav Stokkmo, the four-hour session featured six technical presentations, goodwill messages, and a robust Q&A session that offered practical insights into the future of copyright licensing in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
Mr. Gbadega Adedapo, Chairman of REPRONIG, delivered a compelling welcome address, stressing that collective licensing remains the most effective way to strike a balance between access to knowledge and fair reward for rights holders. He urged universities to embrace copyright licensing as an investment in academic excellence and national development.
Goodwill messages followed from Professor Jeleel Ojuade, Vice-Chancellor of Ojaja University, who commended REPRONIG for its trailblazing initiative and revealed that his university had already signed a copyright licensing agreement with REPRONIG. Professor Andrew Haruna, Secretary-General of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors, reinforced the importance of building a sustainable framework that benefits students, authors, and publishers alike.
Dr. John Asein, Director-General of the NCC, traced the history of REPRONIG, applauding its resilience and progress despite challenges. He called on copyright stakeholders to “rise up to the challenge” of building a robust collective management system for text- and image-based works, pledging NCC’s support to ensure licensing becomes a norm in Nigerian higher education.
The technical sessions provided a mix of international insights and local solutions. Ms. Miyuki Monroig (WIPO) delivered an enlightening presentation on the international legal framework for collective management, outlining WIPO’s initiatives to strengthen copyright compliance and access to learning materials globally.
Ms. Anita Huss-Ekerhult (IFRRO) discussed how licensing can facilitate legal access to books and journals in universities, citing successful models from other countries. Assoc. Prof. Samuel Okere (Babcock University) examined current practices in Nigerian universities, noting the need for structured agreements to curb unauthorized copying while supporting academic growth.
Mr. Joseph Gyamfi (CopyGhana) and Mr. Letlhogonolo Makwinja (COSBOTS, Botswana) shared inspiring African case studies where collective licensing has empowered both institutions and creators.
Mr. Tosin Akeredolu, Head of Licensing Unit, REPRONIG while speaking on behalf of the Acting Executive Director of REPRONIG, unveiled the proposed REPRONIG licensing framework for Nigerian universities, describing it as a roadmap to lawful, affordable, and sustainable access to educational resources. Mr. Olav Stokkmo, Consultant to WIPO and IFRRO, presented the WIPO-IFRRO reprography project, a collaborative effort aimed at improving collective management of copyright works in African countries.
The interactive question and answer session saw active participation from academics, librarians, and copyright professionals. Discussions centered on implementation strategies, affordability, and capacity building for rights management.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Wale Okediran, Chairman of the REPRONIG Central Working Committee, praised the collaborative effort of all partners and urged stakeholders to convert the day’s deliberations into concrete action plans that will transform Nigeria’s knowledge economy.
The webinar marked a turning point for Nigeria’s academic community, offering a framework to legally access knowledge resources, support content creators, and protect intellectual property rights. With REPRONIG, NCC, IFRRO, and WIPO working in synergy, participants agreed that Nigerian universities are now better positioned to promote innovation, uphold copyright compliance, and nurture a culture of respect for intellectual property.
Report by
Mr. Olufemi Timothy Ogunyejo,
Head, Media Team, REPRONIG