Broadcasting
NCC Poised to Introduce Model IP Policy for Nigeria
As Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) partners stakeholders to develop a Model Intellectual Property (IP) Policy for Nigerian Universities, it has also appointed the 15 winners of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) maiden National IP Essay Competition as Copyright Ambassadors.
Mr. John O. Asein, Director-General of NCC, who revealed this in Abuja recently at a reception for the winners, remarked: “As winners and finalists of the maiden competition, you represent the product of a new dawn in the relationship between WIPO and Nigeria; a new beginning in the strategic dissemination of IP knowledge amongst students and young persons.”
The Director-General commended Ms. Susan Chioma Omeh of the Faculty of Law, University of Nigeria, overall winner of the competition organised by the WIPO Nigeria Office (WNO) as part of activities marking the 2020 World Intellectual Property Day.
Addressing the winners, led on the study visit to NCC Headquarters by the Programme Officer of WNO, Mr. Oluwatobiloba Moody, the Director-General disclosed that the Commission was already collaborating with the Association of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (AVCNU), the National Universities Commission and other stakeholders to develop a Model IP Policy for Nigerian Universities.
According to him, the policy would guide institutions on legally safe and sustainable use of IP in Nigerian tertiary institutions and provide a template for other areas of pro-active intervention.
“As Copyright Ambassadors and frontline stakeholders in your academic communities, your inputs will be required in the formulation and implementation of that Policy”, he pointed out, adding, “Together we can ensure that the intellectual property system in Nigeria provides the required support for the growth of our creative and innovation industries. Together we must make the IP system work in Nigeria and for Nigeria”.
Assuring that the Commission would not relent in the dissemination of IP knowledge, the Director-General noted that while Government and its constituent organs would continue to provide legislative and administrative frameworks, “the ultimate responsibility for the sustainable use of any IP system lies with the critical stakeholders”.
He observed that the theme of last year’s World IP Day celebrations and the topic of the essay: “Making Innovation Work for a Green Future in Nigeria” did not only focus on the global issue of the environment but also has metaphoric significance for Nigeria as a land with abundant creative talents, immense potentials and endowed with imaginative and talented people. In his words, “It is our collective responsibility to make intellectual property work for a greener, safer and more prosperous Nigeria”.
According to Mr. Asein, creativity and innovation have become the universal currency in today’s technology driven, knowledge-based economy: “Fortunately, there are very few barriers to creativity which is increasingly dominated by the younger generation; your generation; the digital generation. I am therefore delighted that we have a credible essay competition that gives students and young persons a voice in the policy space”.
The Director-General further charged the winners: “You are the bright hope of a better Nigeria where the value of IP as an inexhaustible national resource is well appreciated and accorded due respect at every level of society.
We see all around us a generation of vibrant, determined and committed young creators, innovators and entrepreneurs and it is my belief that with the appropriate support, they can use the intellectual property system to bring about rapid turn-around in the economic fortunes of our great nation”.
The responsibilities of the Copyright Ambassadors include: assisting in the dissemination of copyright knowledge; initiating relevant programmes and activities to promote respect for copyright and other forms of IP; serving as liaisons between their institutions and the Commission on matters of copyright; providing feedback for the Commission on various aspects of intellectual property; assisting in policy formulation and implementation; and carrying out other assignments that the Commission may from time to time require.
In his remarks, Mr. Moody assured of the commitment of the WNO to the advancement IP capacity in the country. He indicated that the office was awarding the winners internship and scholarship opportunities within and outside the country.
While appreciating the DG, NCC for hosting the finalists, he assured that the WNO would continue to work with the Commission to strengthen IP and Copyright knowledge in Nigeria.
Other winners of the essay competition are the first runner-up, Ms. Chantelle Chiwetalu of the Faculty of Law, University of Nigeria; second runner-up Mr. Olanrewaju Toheeb Balogun of the Faculty of Law, Lagos State University, Ojo; Mr. Rotimi Owolabi, a law student of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; Mr. Chibuzor Ndubisi, a mechanical engineering student of University of Nigeria, Nsukka; Mr. Habeebullah Asudemade, a law student of University of Ibadan; among others.
Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has warned disc jockeys (DJs) against publicly playing music without proper authorization or a valid license.
NAN reports that John Asein, NCC director-general, gave the warning in an advisory issued in Abuja.
He said the commission’s attention had been drawn to the growing practice of DJs playing music in public spaces without obtaining copyright licences from their approved collective management organisations (CMOs).
Asein said under sections 9 and 12 of the Copyright Act, 2022, only the owner of copyright in a musical work or sound recording has the exclusive right to reproduce, perform, or communicate it to the public.
The NCC threatened to prosecute defaulters in a case that could lead to a N1 million fine or a 5-year jail term upon conviction.
“Engaging in any of these acts without the owner’s authorisation constitutes an infringement under the Act,” he said.
“Such infringement may constitute a civil wrong or a criminal offence under section 44 (7), punishable upon conviction by a fine of not less than N1 million or imprisonment for a term of not less than five years or to both.”
Asein advised DJs to obtain the necessary licences and pay royalties to the approved CMO before performing music publicly.
The NCC director-general added that the commission will arrest and prosecute anyone found violating the law.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the approved CMO for musical works and sound recordings in Nigeria is the Musical Copyright Society, Nigeria (MCSN),” he said.
“The Commission is aware that the Disc Jockey’s Association of Nigeria (DJAN), as the umbrella body representing DJs in Nigeria, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with MCSN.
“Under the arrangement, DJAN is authorised to work with MCSN to facilitate the payment of royalties by DJs nationwide, based on the tariff that DJAN had negotiated with MCSN.”
Netflix has increased its subscription fees in Nigeria for the third time since 2024, with the Premium Plan rising by 21.43%, from ₦7,000 to ₦8,500 per month.
This marks the streaming platform’s first price adjustment in 2025.
Other subscription tiers have also been affected.
The Standard Plan now costs ₦6,500, up from ₦5,500—a hike of 18.18%.
The Basic Plan has increased from ₦3,500 to ₦4,000, while the Mobile Plan moved from ₦2,200 to ₦2,500, reflecting increases of 14.29% and 13.64% respectively.
The latest adjustment aligns with Netflix’s broader global pricing strategy, which the company has linked to its ongoing investment in content and platform development. In a previous communication to investors, Netflix stated, “As we invest in and improve Netflix, we’ll occasionally ask our members to pay a little extra to reflect those improvements. Which in turn helps drive the positive flywheel of additional investment to further improve and grow our service.”
While the company did not explicitly cite inflation in its most recent update, its website indicates that local economic factors influence its pricing structure.
“Price changes are made to respond to local market changes, such as changes to local taxes or inflation,” the statement read.
The move mirrors similar pricing shifts among other major digital and entertainment services in Nigeria.
Companies including Google, DSTV, GOtv, and Microsoft have also raised subscription rates, attributing their decisions to continued inflationary pressures and a weakening naira.
National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) have jointly introduced “The Big Picture’, a flagship initiative under Nigeria’s renewed Digital Switchover (DSO) project.
Under the project, Nigerian households will for the first time, gain access to high-quality digital broadcasts via affordable satellite dishes, hybrid devices, and internet-enabled set-top boxes.
Backed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and in line with his Renewed Hope Agenda, this strategic shift marks a significant step toward transforming Nigeria’s broadcasting landscape by leveraging the country’s sovereign satellite infrastructure.
At the heart of the initiative is NigComSat-1R, Nigeria’s only communications satellite in orbit, which will play a critical role in delivering Direct-to-Home (DTH) broadcasts across the entire Nigerian territory.
This satellite-first approach eliminates the traditional dependence on terrestrial transmission towers, accelerating the nationwide rollout of digital broadcasting by over 65%.
It also offers a scalable, cost-effective, and future-ready model for expanding digital access and promoting national storytelling.
Key figures, including: Charles Ebuebu, director-general, NBC; and Jane Nkechi Egerton-Idehen, managing director, Nigcomsat, have welcomed this forward-thinking strategy, emphasising its importance in maximising the use of national satellite assets and ensuring inclusive access to digital content.
An estimated 10 million homes equipped with DVB-S2-compatible televisions or decoders will have immediate access to free-to-air channels, while others will benefit from next-generation hybrid devices that combine satellite feeds with online streaming capabilities.
These new branded devices are designed with the country’s youth-dominated demographic in mind over 60% of the population is under the age of 25.
They will feature pre-installed apps, voice search functionality, parental controls, and seamless integration with NigComSat’s Electronic Programme Guide (EPG), offering an intuitive and engaging user experience.
In a data-driven upgrade to Nigeria’s broadcasting ecosystem, NBC is also partnering with global analytics firm GARB to introduce real-time audience measurement technology.
This will enable broadcasters, advertisers and content creators to analyse viewership trends across regions and devices, helping to tailor content more effectively and drive higher audience engagement. The introduction of this system is expected to boost advertising revenue by as much as 300% by 2026.
The success of “The Big Picture” will rely on robust collaboration between public and private stakeholders.
The Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) and other content partners are expected to supply 60% of programming for the new 120-channel platform, using both original and repurposed content.
Meanwhile, local manufacturers will contribute by producing around 5 million compliant devices annually, a move projected to create over 20,000 jobs in assembly plants nationwide.
Cyber Crime: Hackers to Hold Secret Conference 3.0 July 25
FG Enrolls 59,786 Inmates on NIN Platform
Gaps on Phone Number Recycling Fuel Identity Theft, Data Breaches- ICIR
Wema Bank Workers, Others Arraigned over Alleged N8.9Bn Cybercrime
Music Stars, Comedians Light Up “Evening with Glo” in Ijebu Ode
Telecom3 days agoAirtel Recommits to Fraud Prevention after NCC’s N104m Fine for SIM Registration Breaches
News3 days agoIHS Nigeria Reaffirms Commitment to raising Nigeria’s Next Tech Giants from the Ilorin Innovation Hub
Telecom3 days agoMTN’s Female Leadership Surges to 41.4%, Doubles Industry Average
E-Financial3 days agoGambaryan, Binance Executive Leaves Company after 8-Month Detention in Nigeria
General News3 days agoNITDA Makes Case for Inclusive Tech for Special Needs
Broadcasting3 days agoNCC Warns DJs: Playing Music Without License Could Lead to 5-Year Jail Term
General News3 days agoInterswitch, Bank of Sierra Leone Champion Financial Inclusion @ Sierra Leone Fintech Forum 2.0
Telecom3 days agoTikTok Rolls Out Personalization Tools for Nigerian Users