NANTAP calls for better protection of performers rights at the four-day National Delegates Conference
A four-day National Delegates Conference of the National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners, NANTAP, has opened in Lagos with a strong call for better protection of performers’ rights under the new Copyright Act of 2022.
Delivering the keynote address titled The Protection of Performer’s Rights Under the Copyright Act: Light, Camera, Action!, Director-General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission, Dr. John Asein, emphasized the need for theatre practitioners to understand intellectual property rights.
He noted that copyright law grants creators exclusive control over their works, preventing unauthorized use.Dr. Asein highlighted how emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, have created new challenges for performing artists, making copyright protection more critical than ever.
He stressed that safeguarding creative works ensures that performers control how their content is reproduced, distributed, and monetized.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s copyright history, Dr. Asein paid tribute to two key figures; Dr. Sylvester Olusola Agbaje-Williams and Chief Hubert Ogunde, who played vital roles in advocating for performers’ rights.
He announced that the NCC will compile insights from the conference into a publication titled Copyright and Theatre Arts to further educate practitioners.
NANTAP President, Israel Eboh, in his welcome address, said the convention’s theme, Theatre, Politics, and National Development, underscores the role of theatre in shaping society.
He noted that NANTAP has trained hundreds of practitioners through workshops, international collaborations, and mentorship programs.
The Special Guest of Honour, Ireland’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Peter Ryan, described theatre as a powerful tool for societal change, capable of stimulating consciousness and fostering national development.
The conference featured cultural displays and panel sessions, including discussions on Insurance and Arts Funding Security by Leadway Assurance and Copyright Protection by the Nigerian Copyright Commission.
Reporting by Chioma Ezike; Editing by Julian Osamoto
