Broadcasting
Asein, DG NCC says WIPO Office in Nigeria will Boost IP Development in Africa

Mr. John O. Asein, Director-General of Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), says Nigeria will benefit immensely from the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) External Office newly established in Nigeria in the use of Intellectual Property (IP) as a catalyst for sustainable national economic development and enhanced growth in the Africa region.
He stated this while receiving the Programme Officer of the new WIPO Nigeria Office, Mr. Tobi Moody who paid a courtesy visit to NCC Headquarters in Abuja.
The Director-General used the opportunity to thank President Mohammadu Buhari GCFR, for not only attracting the WIPO External Office but also for the ratification of 4 major copyright treaties in October 2017, followed by a comprehensive Draft Copyright Bill approved by the Federal Executive Council.
He also expressed gratitude to the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and Ministers of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami, SAN and his Foreign Affairs counterpart, MR. Geoffrey Onyeama, for driving the intensely competitive process that culminated in Nigeria’s emergence as one of the two countries selected for establishment of the WIPO External Offices in Africa, the second being in Algeria.
Mr. Asein reassured the visiting WIPO official that Nigerian Government was committed to ensuring that the presence of the WIPO External Office in Nigeria would serve to boost the use of IP as a tool for employment generation and wealth creation for the hugely talented and creative people in Nigeria.
He assured that the Commission would support the WIPO External Office with needed competencies to enable it deliver on its mandate of ensuring that Nigeria and other African countries witnessed rapid growth in the use of IP for development.
The Director-General lauded the WIPO member-states and the Director-General of WIPO, Dr. Francis Gurry, for endorsing Nigeria as one of the hosts of the External Offices, adding that the development was an affirmation of Nigeria’s preeminent position and strategic importance in the world of IP.
According to him, while the presence of the WIPO External Office would enhance collaboration between Nigeria and WIPO, Government would uphold the delicate trust of hosting the Office by ensuring that the Office functioned effectively for the benefit of Nigeria and WIPO.
He further stated that the siting of the WIPO Office in Nigeria was a dream fulfilled and applauded the past Directors-General of NCC and the team whose hard work has paid off.
In his remarks, the WIPO Programme Officer, Mr. Tobi Moody, said he was in the country to set up the WIPO External Office which took off temporarily at the United Nation’s Office in Abuja on 22 January 2020.
He commended the several initiatives of NCC since 2009 that have resulted in the siting of the WIPO External Office in Nigeria despite competing interests in the region. He pledged to work with the Commission to improve IP administration in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.
Mr. Moody noted that the operation of the WIPO External Office was tied to the potentials of Nigeria’s creative industry, adding that the Office would leverage on the vision and institutional support of the Commission in view of the contributions of the copyright sector to the growth of IP in Nigeria.
He stated that a key role for the External Office was to complement the existing relationship of the national IP Offices and WIPO, adding that the programmes and structures of the Commission would be factored into designing the programmes for the WIPO External Office.
The WIPO programme officer also indicated that the External Office would collaborate with the NCC in ensuring adequate publicity for this year’s World IP Day, April 26, with the theme “Innovate for a Green Future”.
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.
E-Business3 days agoFirm Discovered a New Corporate Phishing Technique using a Popular AI Web Development Platform
Telecom3 days agoNo More Deleting and Reposting: Instagram Unveils Long-Awaited Profile Update
Telecom3 days agoAirtel Nigeria Launches Web Data Calculator to Give Customers Greater Visibility into Data Usage
Telecom2 days agoNDSF 2026: Teniola, Ebeledike Inducted into Hall of Fame as NiRA, MTN, Digital Realty sweep top honors
Telecom2 days agoAirtel Africa Foundation Publishes Inaugural Annual Report
Telecom3 days agoNCC Board Reviews Telecom Sector, Notes Progress in Network Expansion, Consumer Compensation
News2 days agoMobile Internet Gender Gap Widest in Africa – GSMA
Telecom3 days agoAll Set for 2026 Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum and Awards: NLNG, IHS, and others rally support


















