SNA urges members to register with REPRONIG to protect copyright, earn royalties
By Godwin Okondo
THE Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) has urged visual artists across the country to register with the Reproduction Rights Society of Nigeria (REPRONIG), as part of efforts to strengthen copyright protection, safeguard intellectual property and ensure that artists receive royalties from the reproduction of their works. The call is contained in a notice issued by SNA National Vice-President, Southwest Zone, and Team Lead of SNA-REPRONIG Southwest Zonal Implementation Team, Otunba Nkang Ini Dan, announcing the National Visual Artists Copyright Protection and Creative Rights Development Programme (NVACRDP).
The initiative seeks to strengthen the copyright ecosystem for Nigerian visual artists through education, documentation, advocacy and institutional collaboration, particularly against the growing unauthorised use and reproduction of artistic works facilitated by digital technologies, online publishing, artificial intelligence, educational reproduction systems and social media.
According to the notice, although copyright laws exist in Nigeria, many visual artists remain inadequately informed about their intellectual property rights and the mechanisms available to protect their works and earn remuneration when they are reproduced or used by third parties.
Dan explained that REPRONIG, the country’s recognised Collective Management Organisation (CMO) for the administration of reproduction and reprographic rights in literary works, also has a mandate covering visual artworks reproduced in literary and publishing materials.
He noted that the organisation represents authors, publishers, visual artists and other copyright owners, collecting royalties from the reproduction of their works and distributing the proceeds to the appropriate rights holders.
Established following discussions at a copyright forum organised by the Nigerian Copyright Council, now the Nigerian Copyright Commission, in 1994, REPRONIG was incorporated in December 2000, licensed by the Commission in 2001 and commenced full operations in 2003.
Its activities include managing reproduction rights in books, journals, newspapers, academic publications and other literary materials; licensing photocopying, scanning, digital storage and other forms of reproduction; collecting and distributing royalties; and monitoring compliance with copyright regulations relating to literary and text-based works.
The organisation is also affiliated with the International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organisations, a global network representing authors and publishers in more than 90 countries. Through reciprocal arrangements with international counterparts, Nigerian rights holders can benefit from protection and royalty payments arising from the use of their works abroad, while foreign rights holders receive corresponding protection in Nigeria.
Explaining the relevance of the initiative to visual artists, Dan clarified that REPRONIG’s coverage extends to images and artworks incorporated into published materials, including illustrations, paintings, photographs and other visual creations reproduced in books, magazines, journals, newspapers, educational materials, exhibition catalogues, reports, book covers and digital publications.
He, however, cautioned artists against uploading unpublished or standalone artworks to the platform, stressing that eligibility is limited to works that have already appeared in published publications. Accordingly, an illustration reproduced in a textbook, a painting featured in an exhibition catalogue, a photograph published in a magazine or an artwork incorporated into a printed or digital publication would qualify for registration. Original paintings, illustrations, photographs, ceramics, sculptures and other creative works that exist only as standalone pieces are not eligible for upload unless they have been reproduced in a published publication.
On the registration process, Dan stated that interested artists must first be active members of their respective SNA state chapters, with their names reflected as active on the chapter’s membership list at the SNA National Secretariat.
Applicants are also required to have a valid means of identification, such as the National Identification Number (NIN), international passport, voter’s card or driver’s licence, as well as proof of residential address.
Acceptable proof of address includes a utility bill bearing the address supplied during registration or the first page of a bank account statement.
Artists are then expected to download the REPRONIG application through the Google Play Store or the appropriate application platform on their devices and create individual accounts using active email addresses and unique passwords.
The registration process also requires applicants to upload their identification documents and proof of address where requested, alongside other necessary personal and professional information. Dan described the registration process as relatively straightforward, estimating that it should take applicants no more than 30 minutes to complete.
The initiative comes amid growing concerns within the creative sector over the unauthorised reproduction, circulation and commercial exploitation of artistic works, particularly in an increasingly digital environment where images can be copied, distributed and repurposed without the knowledge or consent of their creators.
For visual artists, participation in collective rights management offers a potential avenue for ensuring that the reproduction of their published works is properly licensed and that they receive royalties when such works are used.
Dan urged eligible artists to take advantage of the programme, emphasising the importance of collective action in building a stronger copyright protection system for the country’s visual arts community.
The campaign’s central message, as outlined in the notice, is: “Create. Protect. Reproduce. License. Earn.”
