The Association of Movie Producers of Nigeria (AMP), alongside legal experts, policy makers, and international organizations, has renewed its call for robust protection of performers’ rights across Africa under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The call was made during a high-level roundtable session on Tuesday, hosted by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Nigeria Office, in collaboration with the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), at the United Nations House in Abuja.
In his welcome address, Dr. Oluwatobiloba Moody, Director of the WIPO Nigeria Office, described performers as cultural ambassadors and economic drivers.
He emphasized the need for AfCFTA protocols to prioritize creative rights in addition to trade liberalization.
Speaking on behalf of the NCC Director-General, Dr. John Asein, representative Funmi Adewale highlighted the 2022 Copyright Act as a legislative milestone.
“For the first time, performers' rights are clearly defined and legally protected, empowering artistes and strengthening the creative economy,” she said.
The National President of AMP, Amb. Dr. Queen Blessing Ebigieson, represented by FCT Chapter Publicity Secretary Desmond Utomwen, advocated for equity and fair competition in the creative sector.
“Creativity is Nigeria’s new oil. It must be protected, monetised, and fairly traded across Africa under AfCFTA,” she stated.
A key panel session explored gaps in the existing legal framework and the welfare of performers, especially in the digital era.
President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Dr. Ejezie Emeka Rollas, decried the lack of pensions, royalties, and healthcare support for artistes.
> “Many performers still live from gig to gig. We must institutionalize protections,” he said.
Also speaking, Ms. Victoria Onyeagbako, a doctoral researcher at Queen Mary University of London, presented policy recommendations for cross-border enforcement of copyright laws.
“Performers must have confidence that their rights are protected wherever their work circulates in Africa,” she said.
Participants included members of AMP, AGN, CMOs, copyright lawyers, and international partners.
The session ended with a collective commitment to push for reforms that will ensure African performers are adequately recognized, protected, and compensated within the evolving trade and intellectual property frameworks of the continent.
