NCC to Partner NPA, ANA, Others to Promote Creativity in Correctional Centres
In line with its statutory mandate and the renewed drive to boost the use of copyright to grow the creative sector, the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) will partner with relevant agencies, associations and industry practitioners to promote creativity in correctional centres across the country.
Dr. John O. Asein, Director-General of the Commission, announced this initiative when he paid a courtesy visit on the Controller-General (CG) of Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), Mr. Haliru Nababa recently.
Asein explained while elaborating on the initiative, that the Commission had concluded plans to collaborate with the Nigerian Publishers Association (NPA), Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN) and the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) to facilitate the reformation, rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates through creative activities.
According to the Director-General, the drive will help keep the inmates constructively engaged, inspire hope in them, help to develop positive life-changing attitudes and hone their life-effectiveness skills.
“The programme will introduce inmates to new value systems and role models that would make them more mentally ready and less likely to become reoffenders after serving their terms,” he added.
Asein also revealed that apart from strengthening the creative skills of inmates in various sectors, the Commission will also promote reading by working with Nigerian publishers and authors to donate books to the libraries of correctional centers across the country and that it will also collaborate with NPA and ANA to organize a creative writing competition with prizes and the prospect of getting the best works from the competition published.
Responding, the Controller-General (CG), Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) appreciated NCC’s efforts at encouraging creativity, describing the Commission as an indispensable gem in the country’s economic growth.
The CG NCoS who was represented by the Deputy Controller-General (DCG) in charge of Inmates Training and Productivity (ITP), Sylvester N. Nwakuche, mni, expressed optimism that the partnership with the Commission will yield favorable results and further boost the redefined mandates of NCoS for the holistic reform, rehabilitation and reintegration of Inmates.
He stated further that there are countless creatives in correctional facilities across the country that would benefit from the proposed partnership, stressing that the NCoS has already put in place a Technical Team for the implementation of the partnership.
