A Professor of Commercial and Intellectual Property Law at Babcock University, Dorcas Odunaike, has urged lawmakers to expand the 2022 Copyright Act to better protect the rights of Nigerian performers and strengthen the creative industry.
Speaking during Babcock University’s 56th inaugural lecture titled “Scar in Copyright Protection: Harnessing the Potential of Performers’ Rights in Nigeria”, held in Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, Odunaike said the rapid rise of digital technologies and piracy has exposed loopholes in the current law.
She warned that new digital threats — such as deep fakes and online bootlegging — are making it easier for others to exploit performers’ works without consent, damaging both their income and reputation.
“Nigeria faces serious challenges in managing performances — from piracy and bootlegging to digital exploitation of music and videos,” she said. “If the Copyright Act is properly updated and implemented, performers will enjoy fairer rewards for their work, and the creative sector will grow stronger.”
Odunaike noted that the creative industry contributes about ₦154 billion to Nigeria’s GDP and employs over 4.2 million people through Nollywood, music, fashion, and digital media.
She called for clearer laws to address emerging technologies, stronger enforcement, and more awareness among artists about their intellectual property rights.
To promote transparency, she also recommended yearly independent reviews of licensing societies and the inclusion of digital performances in Section 63(2) of the Act to ensure artists benefit from online royalties.
“This will go a long way in improving accountability and ensuring Nigerian performers get the recognition and reward they deserve,” she added.
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