— As University Press Plc, donates books to Ondo govt

By Dayo Johnson Akure

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the University Press Plc, Mr. Samuel Kolawole, has described piracy as a challenge facing publishing business in the country.

Kolawole, who said this during a courtesy visit by the management of the company to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa in Akure, described it as a scourge.

He, on behalf of the company, donated 3,875 books to the the state government to assist the education sector of the state.

Describing issue of piracy as a challenge to publishing business, Kolawole said there was a need for the government and other stakeholders to collaborate with the publishing firms to end the scourge .

According to him ” It is a challenge that is not limited to Nigeria. It is worldwide.

” What has made a difference in other parts of the world is the way that the laws in those areas have been enforced. In Nigeria, we are facing a lot of challenges because it is a big country, and so the challenge is even bigger and higher.

“We have been working as individual companies to try and fight this piracy. Apart from that, we are working with the Nigerian Publishers Association, which is the association of publishers in Nigeria, to also fight piracy.

“At the individual level, as publishers, and also at the NPA level, we are also working with the Nigerian Copyright Commission to see that we attack piracy and fight it and bring it to the barest minimum. It is a major challenge that publishers are facing.

On the donation of books to the state government, Kolawole said it was part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility to the state .

According to him ” This is one of the things that we do in University Press PLC. We believe that in any environment where we are, and we are succeeding, as part of the stakeholder approach to our business, we should give back to that society, to that community.

“So this is part of our corporate social responsibility. We are book publishers. We have a presence in Ondo State.

“We have benefited from this state, and we just feel that we should give back to the people of this state.

“This is not the first time we are coming to give back to society, especially in Ondol State. So that is what we have come to do, to give back to the state by donating books.

He said that ” We have 3,875 copies of books, for the libraries of public schools in Ondo State.

Responding, Governor Aiyedatiwa said Ondo State had benefitted from the patronage of University Press Plc, noting that the state had consistently purchased and recommended the company’s books at both state and national levels.

According to the governor, the provision of educational materials for pupils and students from primary to secondary school levels is critical to human capital development, particularly in a modern, knowledge-driven economy.

He said major economies of the world are powered by knowledge built on education, technology and skills, adding that University Press Plc was already making a meaningful contribution to education and human capital development.

Governor Aiyedatiwa commended the company for focusing on producing educational materials for foundational levels, rather than concentrating solely on high-profile publications.

He described the relationship between the Ondo State Government and University Press Plc as mutually beneficial, noting that while the state patronises the company’s products, the company reciprocates through such support.

The Governor assured the company of the state government’s continued support, stressing that its commitment to giving back to Ondo State predated his tenure as governor.

He noted that the company had supported the state under previous administrations, including during his time as Deputy Governor, and prayed for the continued growth of University Press Plc, saying its success would translate into sustained support for education in the state.