Broadcasting
Prof. Jerry Gana Canvases Stakeholders’ Support for Renewed Anti-Piracy Campaign

Professor Jerry Gana, former Minister of Information, while underscoring the relevance of the creative industries to Nigeria’s economic development, has charged stakeholders in the copyright industry to intensify support for the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) and its renewed campaign against copyright piracy.

Professor Gana, a prolific author and academic, made the call as the Special Guest of Honour at the Abuja Book Exhibition, with the theme: “Bringing Back the Reading Culture”, hosted by Flomat Books in collaboration with Christian Booksellers Association of Nigeria (CBAN) in Abuja.
The former Minister stressed the need to create an environment that would encourage the sustainable development of talents in Nigeria.
He condemned the activities of copyright pirates and expressed satisfaction with the renewed fight against copyright piracy by the Commission through a sustained anti-piracy campaign.
He urged authors and publishers to take advantage of the various digital formats now available in presenting their books and other reading materials to the new generation of readers while also retaining the physical formats for posterity.
Sharing his personal experience in the world of books, he narrated how his love for books has continued to inspire him to write more books in spite of his busy schedule.
Assuring the NCC and the publishing industry of his fervent support in the fight against piracy, he recalled that as a former Minister of Information, the Ministry then supervising the NCC, he had given full support to the various initiatives of the Commission in its efforts to stem piracy, noting that the fight was getting tougher.
Speaking on the topic “Bringing Back the Reading Culture: Books, Piracy and the Sustainability Dilemma”, the Director-General, NCC, Mr. John O. Asein, urged publishers to understand the needs of young readers, many of whom were “born digital” and, therefore, more comfortable with electronic devices.
He pointed out that publishers have the responsibility to make more books available in formats that the reader would be most comfortable with in order to bring back the reading culture. He reasoned that it was time to invest in e-books and provide children with cheaper access to e-libraries to compensate for the dwindling numbers of well-stocked libraries.
The Director-General also observed that although the activities of copyright pirates might be misdiagnosed as helping to make books available to readers, it was indeed a cancerous growth and unless brought under control, would kill the book industry in Nigeria.
“The Nigerian book industry and the sustained production of reading materials are under threat by copyright pirates and like other criminals, unless their illicit and parasitic activities are checked, they will destroy the very industry that they live on, leaving society with a famished book sector”, he stated.
The Director-General reassured of the Commission’s commitment to reducing the piracy index in the interest of publishers, booksellers, authors and other investors in the creative sector.
Mr. Asein expressed concern over the growing sophistication of the pirated copies, “many of which compete with originals in quality, thereby making it more difficult for copyright operatives to detect”.
He advised publishers to support the Commission’s initiative to introduce anti-piracy devices for use in the book industry.
The Director-General further reiterated the Commission’s resolve to stamp out street sales of books and other copyright works, arguing that street vendors have become a major source of pirated works.
Thanking Prof. Gana for his open endorsement and show of support for the renewed antipiracy campaign, Mr. Asein called on well-meaning Nigerians to also identify with the efforts of Government and shun suspicious books and other copyright materials in the interest of the creative economy.
Broadcasting
MTN Launches One TV with Free-to-View, Pay-as-You-Go

MTN Group has begun rolling out MTN One TV, a new entertainment proposition designed to make digital video content more accessible, relevant, and flexible for customers across African markets.

Introduced in line with MTN’s Ambition 2030 strategy, MTN One TV brings together local storytelling, live channels, international programming, and market-specific viewing options tailored to how customers across the continent access and pay for digital entertainment.
The proposition is designed to give customers greater choice in how they watch content, with viewing models that may vary by market and can include free-to-view content, advertising-funded experiences, pay-as-you-watch access, and subscription offerings.
Depending on local availability, customers may also be able to pay through airtime, Mobile Money, and other locally supported payment methods, helping to reduce common barriers to streaming access.
Beyond enhancing customer experiences, MTN One TV creates new opportunities for African creators, broadcasters, advertisers, and ecosystem partners by helping connect content to wider audiences through MTN’s scale across connectivity, payments, and digital services.
By bringing together a broad mix of content experiences under a single proposition, MTN aims to support greater content discovery, broader audience reach, and sustainable growth across Africa’s digital entertainment ecosystem.
Anchored in MTN’s strategic platforms of Connectivity, Fintech, and Digital Infrastructure, MTN One TV forms part of the Group’s broader ambition to build digital experiences that create value for customers while enabling participation and growth across Africa’s digital economy.
“Entertainment is increasingly becoming an important gateway to digital participation,” said Selorm Adadevoh, MTN group chief commercial, strategy and transformation officer.
“Through MTN One TV, we are leveraging the scale of our connectivity, fintech, and digital capabilities to make relevant content more accessible while creating new opportunities for Africa’s creative and digital economies. This is aligned with our ambition to deliver digital solutions for Africa’s progress.”
MTN One TV is being introduced progressively across MTN markets through a phased rollout approach that reflects local market needs, existing services, and partnership opportunities.
Over time, MTN will bring together a combination of video capabilities, content partnerships, and customer experiences under the MTN One TV brand to create a more consistent and scalable entertainment proposition across its footprint.
Through MTN One TV, MTN continues to extend its role beyond connectivity by combining entertainment, payments, and digital services to deliver experiences tailored to the needs of African consumers.
The rollout supports MTN’s Ambition 2030 vision of leading digital solutions for Africa’s progress while expanding access to digital entertainment across the continent.
Broadcasting
IATA Drops Bombshell: Nigeria Among World’s Most Expensive Countries to Run an Airline

International Air Transport Association (IATA) has identified Nigeria as one of the most expensive countries in the world for airline operations, citing high taxes, charges and operational costs that continue to weigh heavily on local carriers.

IATA’s Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East, Kamil Al-Awadhi, disclosed this during the association’s Annual General Meeting held in Rio de Janeiro.
Al-Awadhi said that although Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, had been pursuing reforms aimed at improving the aviation sector, airlines operating in the country still faced enormous cost pressures.
According to him, the high-cost operating environment has continued to affect the profitability and competitiveness of Nigerian airlines, making it difficult for the industry to realise its full potential.
He noted that excessive taxes, regulatory charges and other operating expenses remained major obstacles to airline growth across the region, with Nigeria ranking among the most challenging markets from a cost perspective.
Al-Awadhi urged member states of the Economic Community of West African States to adopt a proposed 25 per cent reduction in aviation taxes and charges to ease the burden on airlines and passengers.
According to him, lowering taxes and charges would reduce airfares, stimulate passenger traffic and strengthen the competitiveness of carriers operating within West Africa.
He stressed that a more supportive policy environment was critical to unlocking the economic benefits of aviation, including increased trade, tourism and regional integration.
Industry stakeholders have consistently advocated lower taxes and regulatory fees, arguing that the current cost structure makes air travel less affordable and limits the growth of the sector.
IATA’s latest remarks add to calls for governments in West Africa to implement policies that will promote a more sustainable and competitive aviation industry across the region.
Broadcasting
NASENI Trains 50 Women in Kano on Renewable Energy Technologies Under She-Powers Initiative

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), under the leadership of its Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, has trained 50 women in Kano State on inverter and battery technologies through its She-Powers Energy Initiative.

The three-day programme, held at the Technology Incubation Centre, Farm Centre, Kano which ended yesterday, was designed to equip participants with practical renewable energy skills, promote women-led enterprises, and enhance sustainable livelihoods.
The initiative forms part of NASENI’s broader commitment to empowering women, creating economic opportunities, and expanding participation in Nigeria’s growing clean energy sector. It also aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by supporting job creation, entrepreneurship, and inclusive economic development.
Through targeted interventions such as the She-Powers Energy Initiative, NASENI continues to demonstrate its commitment to leveraging technology and innovation to improve lives and drive sustainable development across the country.
Photos: Participants at the She-Powers Energy Initiative training organised by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) held at the the Technology Incubation Centre, Farm Centre, Kano yesterday.
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