The DG NCC Mr Afam Ezekude after giving a history and profile of the NCC  and it’s mandate, elucidated the achievements and progress of the NCC  Particularly from 2011 to date .The DG NCC pointed out that during this period the commission had conducted 270 antipiracy raids with 7,942,683 units of pirated copyright materials and 25 containers  confiscated,worth an estimated street  value of N 8,145,735,360.00 billion.

Furthermore 608 suspects were apprehended. During this period the commission also secured 54 criminal convictions (some with maximum penalties of imprisonment without option of a fine) with a further 175 cases pending at various divisions of the federal high court nation wide.

The DG NCC further noted that the copyright reform initiative launched in 2012, was complete  and awaiting legislative approval. The new Copyright Act is meant to overhaul the frame work of copyright protection, to meet international standards and fulfil various international treaty obligations.

In keeping with the NCC’s  policy of synergising with other agencies to better fulfil its mandate, the DG NCC Mr Afam Ezekude proffered the possibility of NCC and the NJI working together on issues relating to capacity building of judges and other judicial personnel, on intellectual property rights. The DG NCC observed that apart from currently providing training and capacity building for the press, lawyers, students and other stake holders; in November 2015 Nigeria was enlisted as one of the four pilot countries to benefit from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)’s project, on development and intellectual property rights, education and professional training with judicial training institutions. The NCC is the focal agency for this project while the NJI will be the collaborating institution for the purpose of carrying out the project.

Responding to the DG NCC’s address and accepting  the offer of collaboration the  Administrator NJI HON RPI Bozimo OFR  commended the commission for it’s  achievements till date and said that a schedule would  be drawn up detailing when in 2017 the NCC  and the NJI would begin the joint training of judges and  other judicial personnel. The administrator NJI further stated that the full resource  and infrastructure of the NJI will be used to support NCC and WIPO  in effectively carrying out the proposed judicial training project.

It is expected that at the end of the project, apart from judges of the federal high court and appellate courts being trained,the NJI will be equipped to continue providing further standard training for other judges.

Accompanying the DG NCC, Mr Afam Ezekude, were the Director Regulatory Mr Mike Akpan, and the Deputy Director Public Affairs Department Mr Aderemi Adewusi. Present with the administrator NJI HON Justice RPI Bozimo OFR   ,were AA Maidama Institute Secretary, Hajiya M Titilayo Kawu Director of Studies, Mr. A .O Omotesho Director of Research and Mr.Ibrahim Tama  Gambo  Director Finance and Accounts.

Aderemi Adewusi

For: Director-General