Ronik Polytechnic pushes NCC, NLN partnership on IP, knowledge access

…holds its first World Book and Copyright Day

Ronik Polytechnic advances efforts to strengthen intellectual property protection and expand access to knowledge by seeking strategic collaboration with the Nigerian Copyright Commission, the National Library of Nigeria, and publishers, among others.

Chris Alabi, chairman of the governing council at Ronik Polytechnic, represented by Babatunde Adedoyin, a member of the governing council, made this known during the institute’s first World Book and Copyright Day held on Thursday, when he explained that the proposed partnership is aimed at promoting responsible use of intellectual assets, improving information accessibility, and fostering a culture of innovation within the academic community.

“These collaborations are essential in strengthening awareness, building capacity, and implementing policies that protect intellectual property while promoting access to knowledge,” he said.

Alabi, speaking on the theme, “Knowledge, Creativity and Protection,” emphasised that books remain one of humanity’s most powerful tools for preserving knowledge, transmitting culture, and inspiring generations.

“In an academic institution such as Ronik Polytechnic, the book is more than just a repository of information; it’s the foundation upon which scholarship, discovery, and societal development are built.

“Creativity is the engine that drives progress, and institutions such as ours must continue to nurture and support it through an enabling academic environment. In today’s digital age, where information is easily accessible and widely shared, issues of copyright, plagiarism, and ethical use of information have become more critical than ever,” he said.

He emphasised that Nigeria must educate its community about the importance of respecting intellectual property rights and adhering to best practices in information use.

Lynda Alphaeus, representing John Asein the director general of the Nigerian Copyright Commission, speaking on “Reading, Copyright in the Digital Age: Challenges and Opportunities for Higher Education”, said, “The digital space has become the largest place where copyright works are being utilised.”

Alphaesus emphasised that contrary to the belief that students are not reading books, she noted they are reading but not much of hardcopy books, rather soft copies.

“It’s not that students are not reading, a lot of them are reading softcopy books now. They do a lot on the internet because of the times.

“Of course, many of them have infringed on someone’s copyright, as we have discovered that the infringement of copyright is now more on the digital space rather than the hardcopy world,” she said.

She encouraged students and digital space users to desist from downloading information from free apps, because such acts amount to robbing someone his or her creativity benefits.

Alpaesus explained that the root of copyright protection is creativity and innovation.

“The reason why we are talking about creating and protecting copyright is to encourage creativity and innovation. If copyright is not protected, people will not want to create anymore because there won’t be any gain from creating.

“It’s important that copyright is protected, because if you write books, make movies, and/or music, and at the end of the day, you don’t get anything out of it, you‘ll not want to continue,” she noted.

She assured the management of Ronik Polytechnic that the Nigerian Copyright Commission will be happy to work with them at any time.

“If you have something to do with copyright, such as giving the students lectures, we’ll do it for free,” she stated.

Abiodun Olafenwa, the acting rector at Ronik Polytechnic, emphasised the importance of protecting intellectual works and the beauty of creativity, which he said was the reason for the occasion.

“This occasion is not merely a ceremonial gathering; it’s a purposeful and strategic initiative that reflects our unwavering commitment to academic excellence, intellectual development, and ethical scholarship.

“Significantly, this maiden edition is being held under the theme, ‘Knowledge, Creativity and Protection,’ which resonates deeply with our institutional values and long-term vision,” he said.

Olafenwa reiterated that in a world that is increasingly driven by knowledge and innovation, the ability to create, access, and protect intellectual work is a critical asset.

“By educating our community on issues such as plagiarism and copyright infringement, we aim to foster an environment where creativity is encouraged and ethical standards are upheld.

“We also anticipate the establishment of stronger partnerships with stakeholders. These partnerships will open up opportunities for collaborative research, training programmes, and resource sharing,” he said.

Every year on April 23, UNESCO celebrates World Book and Copyright Day in recognition of the power of books as a bridge between generations and across cultures.