Broadcasting
NCC DG Calls for National Book Policy to Address New Challenges
Mr. John O. Asein, director-general of Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), has called on stakeholders in the book sector to work towards the formulation and adoption of a National Book Policy that would address the emerging issues in the sector.
He made the call in his remarks at a copyright webinar organised by the Commission as part of the Virtual Nigerian International Book Fair, 2020 over the weekend with the theme: “Information Technology as a Panacea for the Book Industry Sustainability Amidst the Covid-19 Pandemic”.
Mr. Asein noted that the COVID-19 pandemic presented practitioners in the book industry with an opportunity to redesign their business models, stressing that it was imperative for all those concerned to go back to the drawing board and address the new realities of today in order to guarantee a better tomorrow.
He tasked authors, publishers, printers, booksellers and others in the value chain to leverage on emerging Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools to sustain their relevance in the industry.
According to him, the Commission has harmonised its regulatory and enforcement framework for a balanced, responsive and sustainable copyright ecosystem that would continue to meet the needs of the wider creative sector.
The Director-General disclosed that in partnership with accredited bodies, the Commission would soon roll out measures to monitor the production, importation, warehousing, distribution and sale of books, lamenting the reckless abuse by pirates.
“The Commission will also activate all provisions of the Copyright Act, including the obligation on publishers, printers, producers and manufacturers of copyright works to keep a register of works.
“Our primary objective is to provide a more congenial business environment for copyright business, check book piracy and promote effective management and enforcement of rights”, he added.
He indicated that the proposed measures followed discussions between NCC and stakeholders like the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), the Nigerian Publishers Association (NPA), the Booksellers Association of Nigeria (BAN); and the Chartered Institute of Professional Printers of Nigeria (CIPPON), to develop appropriate technology-based solutions to some of the lingering problems in the industry.
Noting that Nigeria ratified the Marrakesh Treaty in October 2017 to enable persons who were blind, visually impaired, or otherwise print disabled have access to published works, the Director-General also urged publishers to deploy information technology to ensure that more books were made accessible to such persons.
“We urge relevant Government agencies at Federal and State levels to adopt a policy requiring all government funded book production or procurement agreements to include an obligation that the books should also be made available in formats that blind and visually impaired persons can access”, he stated.
He assured that the Commission would partner with the Nigeria Association of the Blind to follow-up on its collaboration with the Accessible Book Consortium (ABC) of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) for the training of publishers and braille production centres to promote the production of school books in accessible formats.
He condemned the rising incidence of illicit book sharing on WhatsApp groups, rogue e-libraries and fraudulent online bookstores, especially in the wake of the pandemic and e-learning solutions that it has forced on the education system.
To this end, he assured right owners that the Commission would continue to monitor the online space and respond speedily to reports of copyright abuses.
“In the meantime, the newly established Online Inspectors Unit in the Commission’s Enforcement Department will also be taking preemptive actions to disrupt online infringements”, he said.
Speaking on the “Challenges of Copyright Enforcement in the Digital Environment”, the Commission’s Director of Enforcement, Mr. Obi Ezeilo identified outdated laws, need to collaborate with different agencies responsible for aspects of online dealings, the difficulty in identifying true copyright owners and the reluctance of online service providers to take down infringing works, as some of the problems militating against effective enforcement of copyright online.
Other challenges identified included the problem of gathering evidence to prosecute online offender; territorial nature of copyright law making it difficult to go against offenders domiciled outside Nigeria; and the frequent changes in technology in the digital environment.
Other resource persons at the webinar were the Deputy Director, Regulatory Department of NCC, Mrs. Susan Bashorun, who made a presentation on “Practical Guidelines for Copyright e-Registration System” and a Chief Copyright Officer, Mr. Kunle Olatunji, who presented a paper on “Management of Rights in Literary Works: Imperatives for the Digital Environment”.
The webinar, moderated by NCC Director of Regulatory Department, Mr. Augustine Amodu, drew participants from across different copyright related sectors.
France’s Canal+ said Wednesday it had cleared the final regulatory hurdle for the buyout of Africa’s largest pay TV enterprise, MultiChoice, and further expand its footprint on the continent.
The company said in a statement that the South African Competition Tribunal had given its approval for Canal+ to acquire the approximately 55 per cent of MultiChoice shares it does not already own.
The approval “clears the way for us to conclude the transaction in line with our previously communicated timeline” by October 8 at the latest, Canal+ chief executive Maxime Saada said in a statement.
“I’m excited about the potential this transaction unlocks for all stakeholders… the combined Group will benefit from enhanced scale, greater exposure to high-growth markets and the ability to deliver meaningful synergies,” he added.
Canal+ is present in 25 African countries through 16 subsidiaries and has eight million subscribers, according to the French group.
MultiChoice operates in 50 countries across sub-Saharan Africa and has 14.5 million subscribers, it says. It includes Africa’s premier sports broadcaster, SuperSport, and the DStv satellite television service.
“It is a hugely positive step forward in our journey to bring together two iconic media and entertainment companies and create a true champion for Africa,” Saada said about combining Canal+’s French language offerings with the English and Portuguese content on MultiChoice.
Canal+ hopes that the acquisition will allow it to grow to 50 to 100 million subscribers in a few years, from 27 million currently.
The mandatory share offer of 125 rand (6 euros) per share values MultiChoice values the company at $3.0 billion (2.6 billion euros).
The approval came with several public-interest conditions worth about 26 billion rand over three years and keeping MultiChoice’s headquarters in South Africa. Shares in Canal+ climbed 1.3 per cent in trading in London, and are up 12.8 per cent this year.
Fifteen years ago, something truly special dropped onto the music scene: Flavour N’abania’s second album, Uplifted. This was a first showcase of his talent. With powerful vocals, masterful highlife production, and a deep connection to his cultural roots, Uplifted solidified Flavour’s reputation as a gifted artist.
At the time of its release, Uplifted smashed through borders and cultural divides, all thanks to Flavour’s deep commitment to celebrating his Nigerian roots, especially his Igbo heritage. This powerful connection to his culture has made him a major force, not just in Nigeria, particularly in the East, but also among the Igbo community dotted around the world.
The sheer success of Flavour’s cultural expression is highlighted by Spotify data from Uplifted and his other tracks. Even though his songs are deeply rooted in his culture and often sung in Igbo, they’re getting massive plays all over the globe.
Uplifted itself has stayed a big deal on streaming platforms, with its standout tracks racking up some serious numbers. Among the most-streamed hits from the Uplifted album are Ashawo Remix, Adamma, and Oyi (I dey Catch Cold). These tracks, along with other timeless fan favourites like Time To Party, Nwa Baby (Ashawo Remix), and Game Changer (Dike) have all contributed significantly to Flavour’s overall streaming success, proving their lasting appeal. Reflecting on the album’s anniversary during an exclusive chat with Spotify, Flavour revealed that for him, “Adamma” truly captured the essence of Flavour from the Uplifted album era.”
From the heart of Nigeria to global playlists: Flavour’s universal pull
Flavour’s music really does have a universal pull. His songs have popped up in over 2 million user-made playlists, which shows just how much people are connecting with and sharing his tunes. And get this: in the last three years, from 2022 to 2024, Flavour’s music has seen a growth in streams, a total stream increase of 134% globally, and a 573% increase across Sub-Saharan Africa.
While 51% of his total audience is in Nigeria, his influence stretches far and wide with the USA, UK, Canada, South Africa, and France all among his top listening countries. That’s a truly global footprint, reaching across Africa, Europe, and America.
Leading Flavour’s listenership in Nigeria is a strong showing from Lagos, accounting for 38% of his Nigerian audience. The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Rivers State also follow closely, making up 22% and 16% respectively, together claiming 76% of his Nigerian audience. He also enjoys love in the east as two Eastern Nigerian cities, Enugu and Onitsha, break into his global top 10. Big international cities like Greater London, Johannesburg, and New York City feature prominently too. This wide geographical spread shows how his music crosses all sorts of borders.
Who’s listening? A look at Flavour’s fanbase
Flavour’s audience is diverse with Gen Zs (18-24 year olds) as his biggest fans globally and across Sub-Saharan Africa. This strong youth appeal is vital for his long-term success. While his music celebrates women, men form the majority of his listeners globally (57%) and in Sub-Saharan Africa (63%).
The lasting success of Uplifted highlights how digital streaming has completely changed the music industry. Platforms like Spotify have given artists like Flavour ways to connect with fans everywhere. These days, streaming data gives us a clear, numbers-based look at an artist’s reach, showing that Flavour’s cultural stories, delivered in fluent Igbo, truly resonate far beyond Nigeria’s borders.
Flavour’s strong link to his Igbo roots, seen in his music, has driven his global success, acting as a cultural bridge for Nigerian traditions. The ongoing popularity of Uplifted and his other songs on streaming platforms proves that genuine cultural expression, mixed with great artistry, ensures lasting success today. As Uplifted hits 15 years, it showcases the power of culture worldwide.
By Lukman Otunuga, Senior Market Analyst, FXTM
This will be a week defined by high-impact events and corporate earnings from the largest companies in the world.
Nigeria’s central bank is expected to hold interest rates on Tuesday.
This decision is likely based on still stubbornly high inflation despite price pressures easing in recent months. Inflation slowed to 22.2% year-on-year in June, its third consecutive decline. A CBN rate cut could be on the cards in H2, but this will be on the back of persistently falling price pressures.
Looking at the NGX All Share Index, it has gained almost 10% month-to-date – pushing 2025 gains to nearly 30%. This means the NGX is currently outperforming the S&P500 and Nasdaq100 who have gained roughly 7% and 11% this year respectively. The Naira spot has held its ground against the USD this year after depreciating almost 70% in 2024.
Outside of Nigeria, earnings season is in full swing with US banks reporting strong results last week. Now the spotlight shines on big tech with Alphabet and Tesla reporting on Wednesday.
Alphabet shares gained 14% in Q2 amid strong AI product demand and growth in the cloud business. However, bulls may need a fresh catalyst to push Alphabet’s year-to-date gains out of the red. Tesla is down almost 20% year-to-date and could extend losses if its latest quarterly results are below market expectations
On the data front, key releases from Europe, the United Kingdom, Japan, and the United States may influence global sentiment.
But the main event for FX markets could be the European Central Bank decision on Thursday. No changes are expected to interest rates, but any clues offered on future moves could spark fresh volatility. Traders are currently pricing in a less than 50% probability that the ECB cuts rates by September
Speaking of FX, the dollar has weakened across the board with the DXY tumbling toward 97.70. This weakness could be based on mounting pressure from Trump to cut US rates and caution ahead of the tariff deadline on August 1st.
Note: Nigeria faces a 14% reciprocal tariff on its goods imported into the U.S, effective from August 1st.
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