Broadcasting

NBC, Pinnacle Resolve Legal Dispute over Digital Migration

Published

10 years ago

August 20, 2016

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The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and Pinnacle Communication Limited have announced that the legal bottleneck that hampered the country’s chances of meeting the June 2017 switchover from analogue to digital viewing is over.

Pinnacle Communication is thus bound to launch the Abuja digital switchover before the end of November, 2016.

Malam Is’haq Modibbo Kawu, director-general of NBC at a Reconciliatory and Interactive meeting with the Management of Pinnacle Communications Ltd., on Friday in Abuja, said that Pinnacle Communications was a very strong leader in the Nigerian broadcasting industry, adding that over the years, NBC developed a very cordial and mutually-beneficial relationship with the company.

Kawu noted that since assumption of office he had been consulting with others and one of the outcomes was resolution of the needless tussle with the Nigerian firm.

He said: “I am happy to report that we have reached substantial agreement in the interest of Nigeria’s DSO. Pinnacle Communications Limited is fully back into the DSO process. Similarly, we have taken a decision, going forwards, that Pinnacle Communications Limited, would serve as the signal distributors for the next phase of the DSO, for which we have tentatively chosen the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

“That decision is a reflection of how far we have gone to remove distrust between the parties. It is also a vote of confidence in the ability of a Nigerian company, in this case, Pinnacle Communications Limited, to be part of a historic process: that of the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting in our country.”

The new DG who could not hide his joy over the resolution of the issue said: “So, finding a resolution to that problem was an important issue for me, from the moment that I was appointed Director General of the NBC. We held several meetings with representatives of Pinnacle Communications Limited on the sore points that led to their seeking legal redress. And our Minister, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, also played a major role in seeking a resolution of the impasse as well as giving the reassurances that led us to a point where the two parties agreed that we needed to move on from distrust, to a re-affirmation of commitment to finding success, collectively, for the Nigerian DSO.

“In truth, we did not have to reach the point where the relationship between us broke down to the point of one of the parties, would decide to go to the courts to seek legal redress. Pinnacle Communications Limited is a very strong leader in the Nigerian broadcasting industry. And over the years, our commission developed a very cordial and mutually-beneficial relationship with them. We collaborated in different areas of endeavour that further strengthened our relationship.

“When Pinnacle Communications Limited became the preferred bidders and winners of the Second National License as the second signal distributors for the Nigerian Digital Switch Over (DSO), it looked like a consolidation of a process that was going to help us speed up the Nigerian digital switchover. Unfortunately, it was soon after that process that the relationship between the two parties became strained leading to the institution of a legal action by Pinnacle Communications Limited.

Responding, Mr Dipo Onifade, executive director, Pinnacle Communications Ltd., confirmed that the matter had been resolved totally due to the confidence that the company had in the new leadership of NBC.

“ We trust the people at the helm of affairs at NBC and the Minister of Information and Culture.

“ We want to assure the NBC that you have our full support as your success is our success, “ Onifade said.

He assured the NBC management of his company’s support towards meeting deadline for digital switch over.

He said: “ We are licencee of NBC, which is the architect of this project right now is doing everything in the right way.”

Onifade noted that the clearance given to his company to start the Abuja digital switchover was not part of the term of settlement; it was only an olive branch waved by NBC.

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Broadcasting

Mbunabo, Nigerian Filmmaker Accuses Ghana TV Stations of Pirating Nollywood Films

Published

18 hours ago

July 15, 2026

Ebere Melum-Nwogbo

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Uchenna Mbunabo, Nigerian filmmaker, has raised concerns over the alleged unauthorised broadcast of Nollywood films by some Ghanaian television stations, calling on Ghana’s National Film Authority (NFA) to strengthen the enforcement of copyright laws.

Mbunabo, Nigerian Filmmaker Accuses Ghana TV Stations of Pirating Nollywood Films

Uchenna Mbunabo, Nigerian filmmaker

Mbunabo made the remarks during a conversation with James Gardiner, deputy CEO of the National Film Authority (NFA) of Ghana.

He questioned whether it was permissible for television stations in Ghana to download Nigerian movies from YouTube and air them without obtaining permission from the producers.

“I noticed that Ghanaian TV stations, the way they are stealing our films and showing them for free with impunity. Is it legalised in your country for TV stations to go on YouTube, download people’s sweat and show it for free?”

According to Mbunabo, some Ghanaian television stations have been downloading newly released Nollywood films from YouTube and broadcasting them without authorisation, depriving producers of revenue generated through the platform.

He also stated that he had not witnessed Nigerian television stations engaging in similar practices and questioned what measures Ghana was taking to protect filmmakers’ intellectual property.

Responding to the concerns, Gardiner acknowledged that the issue exists and said the National Film Authority had begun engaging relevant stakeholders to address it.

He disclosed that the NFA has held discussions with the Ministry of Communications, the National Communications Authority (NCA) and the National Media Commission (NMC) on improving copyright enforcement.

Gardiner explained that while Ghana has copyright laws, enforcement remains challenging because many television stations now operate digitally and may not have physical offices within the country.

“There are copyright laws, but they are not effective because a lot of the TV stations don’t have offices. Most of them are now digital, so they operate from anywhere. They can even have a Ghanaian TV station but be operating from Austria simply because it is digital.”

He added that authorities are considering a new licensing framework that would require broadcasters to undergo a fresh licensing process to improve monitoring and enforcement.

According to Gardiner, television stations found guilty of illegally broadcasting copyrighted content would be required to compensate affected producers through fines.

He added that repeat offenders could face suspension of their broadcasting licences, while a third violation could result in the revocation of their licences.

Although he did not provide a specific timeline, Gardiner said the reforms were already underway and expressed hope that significant progress would be seen next year.

Mbunabo welcomed the proposed measures but urged the National Film Authority to expedite the process, stating that unauthorised broadcasts continue to affect filmmakers’ ability to recover production costs through legitimate distribution channels such as YouTube.

He also stressed that his comments were not directed at Ghana’s film industry, noting that he has worked with several Ghanaian actors over the years and supports collaborations between Nollywood and Ghallywood.

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Broadcasting

From Scarcity to Scale: What Africa Can Learn from India’s Agricultural Transformation

Published

5 days ago

July 11, 2026

Ugo Onwuaso

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By Alice Ruhweza and Dr Purvi Mehta

Food security is often framed as a question of production. Yet at its core, it is about something far more fundamental: how societies organise themselves to ensure that food remains reliably available, accessible, and affordable. In that sense, food is not only a commodity. It is a public good, central to economic stability, social cohesion, and national resilience. Food sector also continues to remain the largest employment generator across developing countries.

India’s transformation from a food deficit nation to one of the world’s largest agricultural producers is frequently linked to the Green Revolution. Focusing too narrowly on that moment misses the broader lesson, aligning policy, institutions, markets, and science around a clear national objective. That alignment moved India from vulnerability to resilience, and increasingly to economic strength.

For Africa, the question is not whether that journey can be replicated. It is what can be learned from how it was built, and how those lessons inform a different context.

A transformation shaped by leadership and systems

India’s agricultural progress reflects decades of political commitment, public investment, and institutional development.

Scientific advances mattered, but so did procurement systems, rural infrastructure, financing mechanisms, farmer participation and research networks. These elements worked together to stabilise food supply and support rural livelihoods. Agriculture was treated as a national priority linked to economic and political stability.

Governments invested in increasing production and ensuring food systems delivered broader outcomes, including stability, price predictability, and social protection. Public grain reserves, price support mechanisms, and distribution systems built food security and underpinned national resilience.

Shared foundations, different realities

Agriculture plays a central role in India’s economy supporting a large workforce and remains closely tied to food security and economic stability. Africa shares structural similarities – agriculture remains central to livelihoods and large rural populations depend on it for income and stability.

The differences are equally significant. Africa’s agricultural systems are diverse, spanning multiple agroecology and climate conditions. Climate exposure is acute, markets fragmented and the pace of population growth faster. The pressure to generate jobs and economic opportunity is immediate. This is not a case of one region following another along a fixed path. It is a different starting point with different pressures. Africa must design its own pathway rather than replicate a historical model.

What the transformation journey reveals

India’s experience offers a set of principles about how transformation happens. First, transformation is built over time, requires sustained political commitment and consistent investment. Progress is cumulative and depends on alignment across multiple parts of the system.

Second, institutions matter as much as innovation. Research systems, extension services, market structures, and financing mechanisms all ensure that productivity gains translate into stable outcomes for farmers.

Third, agriculture must be treated as an economic system. Producing more food is one part of the equation. Markets, value chains, storage, and price realization determine farmers’ benefit. Fourth, food systems require public purpose. Left entirely to market forces, they may not deliver stability, equity, or resilience. Public policy ensures food systems serve broader societal goals.

Fifth, technology development is important, but the impact comes from how well the technology is disseminated and adopted. Affordability and access to technology optimizes the potential of technology.

Finally, inclusion must be deliberate. Even successful transformations can produce uneven outcomes unless access to resources and opportunities is designed to reach smallholders, women, and young people.

From productivity to farmer prosperity

The important shift for Africa is to move beyond a narrow focus on productivity towards a clearer focus on farmer prosperity. Agriculture remains the primary source of livelihood for millions, yet many farmers operate below viable economic thresholds, with limited access to markets, finance, and value addition opportunities.

The next phase of transformation must focus on converting agricultural activity into stable and growing incomes. This requires systems that connect production to markets, strengthen participation in value chains, and support farming as a viable economic enterprise.

Farmer prosperity is not simply a social ambition. It is an economic imperative. When farmers generate reliable incomes, they invest more, produce efficiently and participate fully in markets, strengthening economies and long-term development.

An evolving approach across Africa

Institutions such as AGRA work with governments, research systems, and private actors to strengthen these foundations. The emphasis is on aligning evidence, markets, finance, and policy for agricultural systems to function coherently and deliver measurable outcomes, shifting away from isolated interventions to coordinated efforts that link productivity, market access, and income growth.

Africa’s opportunity is different

Africa enters this moment with advantages such as digital connectivity is expanding, regional markets are growing, national and regional institutions are strengthening. Access to knowledge and technology is greater than ever before.

These conditions create the possibility not only to accelerate progress, but to design it differently. Climate resilience, diversification, and market participation can be integrated from the outset to build inclusive, adaptive and more sustainable food systems.

A new phase of agricultural transformation

India’s journey demonstrates large scale agricultural transformation is possible. It shows how it is built through leadership, institutions, and long-term commitment. Africa’s path will not be identical, but the ambition is similar: to ensure agriculture functions not only as a source of food, but as a driver of economic growth and stability.

The question is no longer whether transformation can happen. It’s whether leadership, systems, and partnerships will align to make it happen at scale.

Ms Ruhweza is the current AGRA President and Dr Mehta is an international development expert and advisor

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Broadcasting

BON Establishes Six Ad Hoc Committees to Modernize Broadcasting

Published

6 days ago

July 10, 2026

Ebere Melum-Nwogbo

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Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria (BON) has established six committees to help strengthen and modernize the country’s broadcasting industry.

The committees will focus on content creation, skills development, digital transformation, sustainability, policy and commercial opportunities

The initiative aims to support industry growth and improve collaboration between broadcasters, regulators and media experts

The official launch recently, was led by Tony Akiotu, president, BON and attended by media professionals, program directors, former journalists and heads of specialized media organizations.

The event brought together several prominent figures in Nigeria’s media industry, including veteran broadcaster and trainer Bimbo Oloyede, Tony Uyah of M4S TV, Kingsley Uranta of Channels Television, Ismael Sani of Platinum TV and Ibrahim Shehu of Trust TV.

Together, they are expected to help drive innovation and support the growth of Nigeria’s broadcasting sector.

According to Akiotu, the committees are intended both to help shape industry policy and to provide a forum for dialogue between BON and broadcasting experts.

Akiotu said the ad hoc committees were intended to strengthen BON’s work and ensure that the umbrella body for Nigeria’s broadcasters played a more direct and meaningful role in developing the country’s broadcasting sector.

The six committees reflect the sector’s main priorities. The first focuses on collaboration and innovation to promote content creation.

The second is dedicated to training and talent development, while the third focuses on industry sustainability by improving the sector’s long-term financial viability.

A fourth committee will focus on digital transformation and work with the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) on regulatory issues.

The remaining two committees will oversee public policy advocacy and the development of sports and commercial rights to help broadcasters increase revenue and attract more investment. Together, the committees are expected to guide BON’s efforts to modernize and strengthen Nigeria’s broadcasting industry.

The committees, chaired by members of BON’s General Assembly and supported by the organization’s Secretariat, have an initial 12-month mandate that may be renewed if necessary.

They are required to submit a progress report within three months and implement approved recommendations within the following six months.

The arrangement is intended to ensure close oversight and the timely implementation of their work.

Akiotu also reminded committee members that Nigeria pioneered television broadcasting in Africa and urged them to carry out their work with greater effectiveness and efficiency.

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