For decades, the unchecked “secondary use” of books and other literary materials—through photocopying, scanning and digital sharing—quietly deprived Nigerian writers and publishers of income. That chapter is now closing. In a landmark development for the country’s creative sector, the Reproduction Rights Society of Nigeria (REPRONIG) has received ₦1.2 billion as the first tranche of the long-awaited Copyright Levy fund.
The payment marks the practical activation of provisions within the Copyright Act that had remained largely dormant. With backing from the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the disbursement signals a stronger federal commitment to treating intellectual property as a driver of economic growth rather than an abstract legal concept.
In a statement issued by its chairman, Gbadega Adedapo, REPRONIG described the release of funds as a turning point for Nigeria’s literary community. He applauded the government for transforming a long-standing policy framework into a functioning revenue mechanism capable of rewarding authors and publishers for the reuse of their works.
Adedapo also commended the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) and its leadership for overseeing the complex process that brought the levy into effect. The system, he explained, ensures that creators of novels, plays, academic texts, law reports and even computer programs are compensated whenever their works are reproduced beyond their original sale.
Membership of REPRONIG is open to authors, publishers and other rights holders of literary works in both print and electronic formats. Through collective management, the society is mandated to track secondary usage and distribute royalties fairly and transparently through recognised associations.
The development has also drawn international attention. The International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organisations (IFRRO) praised the initiative as a significant step toward building a sustainable copyright framework in the region, describing it as a model for fair remuneration systems across emerging markets.
As REPRONIG moves to allocate the funds across the literary value chain, the broader implication is clear: Nigeria is beginning to close the gap between creative output and financial reward. For writers and publishers long accustomed to uncompensated copying, the arrival of the Copyright Levy fund represents not just overdue payment, but the foundation of a more resilient and self-sustaining publishing ecosystem.