Prof. Dorcas Odunaike, an authority in commercial and intellectual property law
Performers in Nigeria’s creative industry need stronger legal safeguards to protect their work and livelihoods, a Babcock University law expert has said.
Prof. Dorcas Odunaike, an authority in commercial and intellectual property law, urged lawmakers to expand the 2022 Copyright Act to better protect performers’ rights, particularly in light of rapid technological changes, digital piracy, and emerging tools such as deepfakes that manipulate performances.
Speaking at Babcock University’s 56th inaugural lecture, Odunaike stated that a well-implemented and updated Copyright Act would enable performers to earn fair economic returns, thereby boosting the sector’s contribution to the national economy. “Nigeria’s creative industry employs over 4.2 million people and contributes about 2% of GDP, yet performers’ rights are often treated as secondary to authors’ rights,” she said.
She highlighted challenges, including bootlegging, unauthorised digital distribution, and cross-border content flow, which make it difficult for performers to claim royalties or maintain control over their work. Odunaike called for explicit legal coverage for digital performances, stronger enforcement mechanisms, and annual independent reviews of licensing societies to ensure transparency and accountability.
Her message is clear: protecting performers is not just about law—it is about securing livelihoods, encouraging creativity, and unlocking the full potential of Nigeria’s $100 billion creative economy goal for 2030.
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