Publishers move to check piracy, accredit book sellers

As part of efforts to checkmate the increased cases of book piracy, the Nigeria Publishers Association (NPA) has announced plans to accredit book sellers across the country.

Besides, the association has commenced the inauguration of its state chapters to protect the industry against pirates.

The National President of the association, Mr. Gbadega Adedapo who disclosed this at a media briefing by the Nigerian Book Fair Trust (NBFT) on its forthcoming 16th International Book Fair lamented the activities of pirates in the country, saying the move became necessary to curb the dangerous trend.

Already, the NPA chief said the body has started inaugurating its state chapters while accreditation of book sellers including their background checks would commence shortly.

He said, “We have a mandate to protect the publishing industry in the country, in doing this, we must check the activities of pirates who constitute a cog in the wheel of progress of the industry. That is why we have commenced the inauguration of state chapters so that we can effectively monitor happenings across the nation, if the activities of miscreants are not checked, it may be impossible for us to achieve the desired results. We are also set to start accreditation of book sellers so that we can know the authentic ones, in doing the accreditation, there would be a background check on them to ensure that they have clean records. We will also be able to access information from time to time from our state chapters, and by so doing, we will be able to help the knowledge chain in the country.”

Adedapo who harped on the need to improve on its distribution chain said the inauguration of state chapters was part of efforts to address the challenge.

The Chairman of NBFT, Mr. Rilwanu Abdusalami in his address said the book fair billed to hold between May 8 and 13, at the multi- purpose hall of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka will feature a conference, with the theme, ‘Book Chain, Government Policies and the Promotion of Reading Culture in Africa’, on May 9, lamented that the growth of book and knowledge industry are seriously hampered across Africa.

Abdusalami said issues hampering the growth of book and publishing industry would be extensively discussed at the conference where the keynote paper will be delivered by the former Registrar of Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Dibu Ojerinde.

Other dignitaries being expected at the event include the Chairman, Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, Senator Shehu Sani; Minister for Information, Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chief Nike Akande while the Vice Chancellor of UNILAG, Prof. Rahamon Bello will be the chief host.