Broadcasting
NCC @ 30 Pledges to Change Copyright Narrative for Wealth Creation
As the Federal regulatory and enforcement agency charged with all copyright matters under the Copyright Act, the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), this year, commemorates its 30th Anniversary.
The three-month celebration, flagged off on 19 August, 2019 has as its theme: “Changing the Copyright Narrative for Wealth Creation”.
Inaugurated as the Nigerian Copyright Council on 19 August 1989 and upgraded to the status of a Commission in 1996, the mandate of the Commission has since been enlarged over the years to include the promotion, regulation, protection, and enforcement of copyright in Nigeria.
All over the world, intellectual property, including copyright, is increasingly playing a prominent role in national development and most nations in today’s knowledge-driven economy are leveraging on the development potentials of their copyright industries.
In the last three decades, the creative industries in Nigeria have grown exponentially and the Commission has also introduced various initiatives aimed at building a copyright system that would support them and guarantee return on their investment to ensure they contribute maximally to national development.
While acknowledging that a lot still needs to be done to fully integrate the copyright system into the nation’s development plan, there is much about the creative industries in Nigeria to celebrate.
The essence of the Commission’s 30th Anniversary, therefore, goes beyond the Commission. It is an opportunity to draw attention to the strength, resilience and indefatigable spirit of the Nigerian creative sector. We are not only talented as a people; we are also a nation that is endowed with immense human resource.
The Nigerian creative industry is currently estimated to contribute about ten per cent (10%) of the nation’s GDP, a feat we hope would increase significantly in the next decade.
Against this backdrop, the 30th Anniversary of NCC, marked in collaboration with core stakeholders in the creative industry, was an avenue for the Commission to appreciate their contributions over the years and reaffirm its commitment to building a copyright system that serves their interests.
With the partnerships that have been built, there is no doubt that together, we have begun to change the copyright narrative with the objective of growing the nation’s creative wealth.
The Federal Government, under the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has introduced various policies and programmes aimed at tapping into the soft power of the creative sector.
Taking a cue from the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) and the Policy on Ease of Doing Business, the NCC has continued to provide the enabling legal and regulatory environment to grow the sector and guarantee return on investment.
As the agency of Government responsible for all copyright matters in Nigeria, NCC remains committed to a strong, balanced and efficient copyright system that is able to grow the creative industries and sustain today’s knowledge ecosystem. To this end, our primary goals remain:
– Strengthening human and institutional capacity for better service delivery;
– Improving the policy and legal framework for a functional copyright system;
– Embarking on a well-coordinated strategic enforcement plan to significantly reduce piracy;
– Initiating appropriate and effective schemes for better rights management and regulation;
– Promoting respect for copyright through awareness and education amongst right owners, users, policy makers and officials;
– Supporting national and international processes to build a more balanced, development-oriented copyright system;
– Compliance with the rules of probity and good governance to ensure that Nigeria gets premium value for its copyright system.
As we celebrate the relevance of the creative industry to national development, the Commission renews its commitment to proactive implementation of its mandates under the Copyright Act; it recommits to intensifying collaboration with national and international development partners to engender enhanced copyright awareness, protection and enforcement interventions nationwide.
In the years ahead, the Commission counts on the continued support of all stakeholders towards creating an enabling environment for the wellbeing and development of the creative industry and the sustenance of the rising profile of Nigeria as a country committed to the protection of creative enterprise.
Once again, the Commission expresses its profound appreciation to all stakeholders and partners at national and international levels for their support in the implementation of its statutory functions over the years and looks forward to more fruitful collaboration in the years ahead.
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.
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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