The Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) for the operationalisation of Nigeria’s copyright levy system, describing it as a watershed milestone that will ensure creative writers are properly compensated for their intellectual work.
The praise was delivered by ANA President Dr. Usman Oladipo Akanbi on Thursday, October 30, 2026, during the opening ceremony of the association’s 45th International Convention held at the Mamman Vatsa Writers’ Village in Mpape, Abuja.
Addressing literary delegates, government dignitaries, and cultural stakeholders, Dr. Akanbi highlighted that the implementation of the copyright levy scheme introduces a critical revenue stream for Nigerian writers and creators whose work is continuously utilized across digital and physical mediums.
”This is a step towards ensuring writers are not only celebrated but also adequately rewarded for the use of their works,” Dr. Akanbi stated, acknowledging the leadership of the NCC Director-General, Dr. John Asein, in driving copyright enforcement and legal protections for content creators.
Despite praising the economic milestone, the ANA President voiced strong concern over rising national insecurity, warning that persistent unrest threatens the literary ecosystem by disrupting cultural gatherings, restricting intellectual movement, and stifling creative expression. He appealed to the federal government to foster a safer environment and establish economic incentives that enable writers to flourish.
Delivering an address on behalf of the Federal Government, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, represented by the Permanent Secretary for Political and Economic Affairs, Mrs. Bekearedebo Augusta Warrens, urged Nigerian authors to leverage their craft to combat insecurity, expose injustice, and foster national unity.
”Writers are custodians of experience and truth,” Mrs. Warrens delivered on behalf of the SGF. She challenged authors to reject divisive narratives and use literature to bridge ethnic and religious lines, while calling on key institutions to expand book distribution networks and fortify the publishing industry to generate sustainable jobs.
Reaffirming the government’s stance, NCC Director-General Dr. John Asein pledged that the commission will maintain aggressive enforcement actions against piracy across both physical and digital markets.
He assured authors that the operationalised copyright levy will serve as an enduring safeguard for creative investments and long-term financial yield.
