Broadcasting
NCC, AVCNU Set Agenda for Model IP Policy for Nigerian Universities
The first draft of an Intellectual Property (IP) Policy for Nigerian universities will soon be finalised by Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), working with the Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (AVCNU) and the National Universities Commission (NUC).
Mr. John O. Asein, Director-General of NCC, and Secretary-General of the AVCNU, Professor Yakubu Aboki Ochefu, gave this indication at a consultative meeting during a visit of the executives of AVCNU to the Commission’s Headquarters in Abuja recently.
The Director-General said the Commission would fast-track work on the draft IP Policy with a view to entrenching a credible copyright culture in the nation’s tertiary institutions.
“The adoption and implementation of an IP Policy in universities will guide lecturers, students and librarians on their copyright obligations and address the allocation of rights in our institutions of higher learning,” he stated.
Mr. Asein also noted that implementation of an IP Policy would boost the Commission’s national anti-piracy campaign and enhance research and the use of IP knowledge in Nigerian universities. This, he asserted, has become even more imperative in light of the attitudinal changes brought about in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He decried the lack of copyright policy guidelines for library users in most Nigerian universities resulting in unregulated photocopying by students to the financial detriment of authors. He, therefore, urged AVCNU to assist in the implementation of the understanding earlier reached between the Reproduction Rights Society of Nigeria (REPRONIG) and the AVCNU on behalf of the Universities.
The Director-General remarked that it was an irony that universities were not eager to obtain licences despite the fact that most of the authors would be among the primary beneficiaries. He also advised REPRONIG to explore ways of ensuring that those universities that signed up for its licence obtained value for money.
In his remarks, the Secretary-General of AVCNU, Professor Yakubu Aboki Ochefu, thanked the NCC DG for assisting with the development of a model IP Policy for Nigerian Universities. He disclosed that the plagiarism detection software, Eaglescan, introduced recently for use in Nigerian Universities has helped to check the incidence of plagiarism and copyright abuses in the universities.
The Secretary-General observed that copyright has become a critical issue in Nigerian universities in view of the increasing relevance of the virtual learning environment occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic. He expressed concern that many universities in Nigeria have no copyright policy and assured that the AVCNU would support the Commission in the development and adoption of the proposed IP Policy for universities to enrich the academic and research culture.
Professor Ochefu further indicated interest in the operations of the Nigerian Copyright Academy (NCA) and assured the Commission that AVCNU would work with the Academy to promote copyright education and enlightenment in the country, especially in the university system.
The visit of the AVCNU officials to the Commission is a follow up to an earlier visit of the NCC management team to the Association’s secretariat in February this year during which the Director-General of NCC advocated the urgent need for a model IP Policy for Nigerian Universities.
National Communications Authority (NCA) has announced that Multichoice Ghana has agreed with the directive from the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations for the establishment of a stakeholder committee to evaluate DSTV pricing in Ghana.
In a statement issued on Sunday, September 7, 2025 NCA said Multichoice Ghana has also expressed its intention to fully participate in the engagement by the Committee.
NCA noted in its statement that Multichoice Ghana’s agreement comes after further engagements with the company regarding its public statement dated September 5, 2025 in which Multichoice Ghana claimed that it has not agreed to a price reduction in DStv subscription.
NCA said the outcome of the stakeholder committee would be determined at the end of its work.
The first meeting of the Stakeholder Committee will take place on Monday, September 8, 2025.
According to the statement, MultiChoice has “confirmed that it will respect due process and the laws of Ghana and its people.”
It can be recalled that the NCA officially wrote to Multichoice Ghana for a response on the directive by the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations for a suspension of its authorisation and requested DStv to submit its pricing model.
NCA said it has received response from Multichoice Ghana to the notice of intention to suspend their authorisation and request for their pricing model.
The Authority noted that it will provide further updates on the matter in due course.
Sam Goegre held a press conference in Accra on Friday, September 5, where he said the company has written to the Ministry for further discussions on the reduction plan.
“Multichoice has finally agreed to reduce their prices; now they want us to discuss the level of reduction,” the Minister said.
“They realised that Ghanaians fully backed the ministry, the NPP has endorsed it, the NDC has endorsed, Ghanaians are simply saying we won’t pay these exorbitant fees again,” he said when asked a question about the timing of MultiChoice’s decision to reduce the prices which comes just 48 hours to the deadline the government gave to them to comply with the order to reduce the prices.
But reacting to Sam George’s statement, Multichoice Ghana said in a statement that “We have noted the statement made by the Minister for Communications Technology and Innovation, Hon. Samuel Nartey George.
“We continue to engage with the Minister in a bid to find an amicable solution that is beneficial for all parties involved, but does not jeopardise the viability of the DStv service.
We will fully participate in the established Working Committee. However, we wish to clarify that MultiChoice Group has not agreed to a price reduction,” a statement they issued said.
This necessitated a further engagement by NCA with the company after which Multichoice Ghana has accepted to take part in the stakeholder committee to evaluate DStv pricing and respect the laws of the country.
Prior to the press conference, Sam George had issued a September 6 deadline to suspend the license of MultiChoice Ghana should they fail to reduce subscription prices.
The Ghanaian government has issued MultiChoice Ghana an ultimatum to reduce subscription prices by September 6 or face licence revocation and operational shutdown, escalating a months-long pricing dispute.
Samuel George, communications minister, delivered the stark warning during the Digital Africa Summit in Accra, declaring that the DStv operator must comply with government demands for fairer pricing that reflects Ghana’s improving economic conditions.
“They have up to the 6th of September. If by that time there is no resolution, we will shut down the operations of MultiChoice,” George stated.
“No corporate entity is above the collective interest of the Ghanaian people.”
The confrontation stems from the government’s request two months ago for a 30% reduction in subscription fees, citing reduced inflation and stabilizing economic conditions.
MultiChoice Ghana has reportedly resisted the directive, prompting increasingly aggressive regulatory action.
The National Communications Authority (NCA) has already imposed fines between GH¢150,000 and GH¢170,000 on MultiChoice for failing to submit mandatory pricing data required under the Electronic Communications Act. The minister confirmed that authorities are prepared to collect these outstanding penalties.
George announced that officials will conduct a final meeting with MultiChoice representatives Thursday, after which the government plans to take decisive action if no agreement is reached.
The minister framed the dispute as a matter of consumer protection and economic fairness.
“This is about fairness and accountability. Ghanaians deserve to benefit from the improving economy through affordable digital services,” he emphasized.
Ghana’s inflation rate has declined significantly from 23.8% in December 2024 to 11.5% in August 2025, while the cedi has shown increased stability. Government officials argue that these improved economic conditions should translate into lower subscription costs for consumers.
The standoff represents one of the most serious regulatory challenges facing MultiChoice’s West African operations, with potential implications for the company’s broader regional strategy.
A shutdown would affect thousands of subscribers across Ghana who rely on DStv for entertainment and news content.
MultiChoice operates as a dominant pay-television provider in Ghana’s market, making any potential service disruption particularly significant for consumers who have limited alternative options for premium television content.
The dispute highlights broader tensions between multinational corporations and African governments over pricing strategies and consumer protection policies in improving economic environments.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the reinstatement of Mr Salihu Abdullahi Dembos as director-general, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).
The directive was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
Onanuga explained that Dembos, who briefly vacated the position following management changes at the agency, was appointed by President Tinubu in October 2023 and will now return to complete his three-year tenure.
Also recalled is Mr Ayo Adewuyi, executive director of News, who was appointed in 2024. He is to serve out his tenure, which runs until 2027.
According to Onanuga, the directive nullifies the earlier appointments of a new director-general, executive director of news, executive director of marketing, and managing director of NTA Enterprises.
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