The Olowu of Owu, Oba (Professor) Saka Matemilola has commended the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) for organising a one-day capacity workshop for enhancing writers’ skills and revenue generating efforts.
The highly revered monarch who stated this while flagging off the workshop held at the Olowu’s Palace in Abeokuta on Wednesday described God as the greatest writer who gives authors inspiration for their works adding that learning is lifelong from cradle to grave.
He expressed delight at the various value adding activities of Ogun ANA and reiterated his commitment to continue to support the Association in sundry ways.
Welcoming participants, Chairman of Ogun ANA, High Chief Abiodun Lasile, charged members to take advantage of the courses by the National Copyright Commission and REPRONIG to upskill in a rapidly changing publishing industry.
Also speaking, the National President of ANA, Dr. Dipo Usman Akanbi commended the leadership of Ogun ANA for exposing its members to learn more about their rights and latent and patent opportunities in the writing profession.
He expressed the hope that the newfound unity in the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) will be sustained.
Delivering a keynote address, the Ogun State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, High Chief Sesan Fagbayi, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Visual Arts, Mrs Oluwatoyin Oyelami, pledged continuous support for creative arts and writers in the State.
Explaining the operations of NCC, Mrs Oluropo Oke, urged writers to stop condoning piracy of creative works by reporting cases promptly adding that sister agencies would assist to effect necessary arrests .
She explained that writers have both moral and human rights as enshrined in the Copyrights Act adding that royalties and copyrights can be willed to family members.
She also enlightened members on the various steps to be taken to safeguard their intellectual properties adding that a lot of visitations to secondary and tertiary schools had been undertaken as part of their ” catch-them-young” programme.
Similarly, the representative of REPRONIG, Mr. Oyesola Oyeniyi, gave a detailed explanation on how writers can register their works to earn resources while Mr. Afis Raheem spoke on the offerings of the National Library including registration of works for ISBN and ISSN.
High net worth personalities at the event included Chief Tunji Ogundimu and Elder Dada Olanipekun, two past Ogun ANA Chairmen, Mr Biodun Bello, a veteran broadcaster and representatives of Chrisland University amongst others.
