Broadcasting
NCC, NJI Renew Commitment to Training of Judges on Intellectual Property
Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) and the National Judicial Institute (NJI) have agreed to intensify their collaboration in the training of judges to enhance the adjudication of intellectual property (IP) matters in the country.
The two Government agencies reached the agreement during a courtesy visit by the Dr. John O. Asein, Director-General of NCC, to the Administrator of NJI, Honourable Justice Salisu Garba in Abuja, recently.
In his remarks, the Director-General thanked the NJI for the successful implementation of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) pilot project on IP Rights Education and Professional Training for Judicial Training Institutions, executed in 2017-2018.
He recalled that the main objectives of the project were to enhance the capacity and skills of judges, prosecutors and other members of the judiciary in Nigeria and to enhance the capacity of the NJI to deliver regular and effective IP education and training programmes.
Dr. Asein expressed optimism that both agencies would build on the outcome of the pilot project in meeting the education and training needs of the judiciary to help meet the nation’s development goals.
The Director-General noted that, although judges were presumed to know the law, it was important to keep them acquainted with recent trends in a fast-growing field like IP and expose them to global best practices in the adjudication of IP cases.
He emphasised the need for them to have access to precedents and the required text materials to help them distil legal issues.
Dr. Asien expressed concern that unless judges understood the importance of IP from the economic, cultural and human rights dimensions as well as its place in national development, “they are not likely to give the cases that come before them the attention that it deserves”.
He remarked that, being a very creative and innovative country, Nigeria needed to get it right with the judiciary in order to develop a robust jurisprudence capable of supporting those sectors.
Dr. Asein had earlier congratulated Justice Garba on his recent appointment as the Administrator of NJI, noting that the Commission was pleased to work with him in bridging the IP knowledge gap in the relevant courts.
The NJI Administrator, in his remarks, gave assurances that the Institute would intensify its collaboration with the NCC to enhance the adjudication of IP cases and advance the mandates of the two agencies in the promotion of IP knowledge.
At the instance of the Administrator, both agencies immediately agreed to a joint standing committee to map out issues of mutual benefit and specific areas of collaboration.
Meanwhile, the Director-General has hinted that, apart from strengthening the capacity of the judiciary, the Commission would, this year, also promote awareness creation among industry practitioners; dedicate more resources to youth reorientation and empowerment in the creative industries; continue to deploy strategic, proactive and technology-driven anti-piracy solutions; as well as ensure an improved rights administration system subject to transparency, accountability, good governance and efficiency.
On the entourage of the NCC DG were the Director of Administration, Dr. Idowu Ogunkuade; Director, Nigerian Copyright Academy (NCA), the training arm of NCC, Mr. Mike Akpan; and Director, Public Affairs, Mr. Vincent A. Oyefeso.
Officials of the NJI present were the Institute Secretary, Abubakar Umar Maidama Esq.; Director of Finance and Accounts, Alhaji Gambo Ibrahim Tama; Director of Research, Mr. Gilbert Tor; Director of Studies, Mr. Abdulaziz Olumo; and Director, Medical Services, Dr. Onuchukwu John.
Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has announced the postponement of its maiden annual Public Relations, Reputation, Ideas, Concepts and Excellence (PRICE) Awards and Prizes to January 25, 2026.
NIPR
The event, earlier scheduled for December 7, 2025, was deferred to accommodate stakeholders whose observance of Christmas festivities had commenced earlier than expected.
Chairman of the Organising Committee, Mr. Israel Opayemi, urged stakeholders to note the new date and prepare to participate in the ceremony.
He said the awards would motivate professionals, practitioners and scholars, while enhancing Nigeria’s global competitiveness in the public relations ecosystem and strengthening brand equity for all stakeholders.
Opayemi reaffirmed the Committee’s commitment to delivering a best-in-class award administration and ceremony, describing the PRICE Awards as a credible and enduring platform to identify, celebrate and elevate outstanding individuals, campaigns and organisations shaping the public relations landscape across sectors.
The development of the PRICE Awards peaked in September 2025 when the NIPR President and Chairman, Council, Dr. Ike Neliaku, inaugurated a 12-man committee to organise the maiden edition. The inauguration followed the Council’s adoption of the report of a technical team tasked with establishing the awards.
Netflix has announced a landmark agreement to acquire Warner Bros. and HBO Max in a transaction valued at $82.7 billion, a move analysts say will reshape the global entertainment industry.
Netflix
The deal, which includes Warner Bros.’ film and television studios, HBO, HBO Max, and Warner Bros. Games, was unanimously approved by the boards of both companies. Under the terms, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) shareholders will receive $23.25 in cash and $4.50 in Netflix shares for each WBD share.
Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos described the acquisition as “a defining moment” for the streaming giant, noting that the company intends to maintain Warner Bros.’ current operations while expanding its production capacity.
“By combining Warner Bros.’ incredible library of shows and movies with Netflix’s culture-defining titles, we can give audiences more of what they love and help define the next century of storytelling,” Sarandos said.
The transaction is expected to close within 12 to 18 months, following the planned spin-off of WBD’s TV networks division, Discovery Global, in 2026. Netflix projects annual cost savings of $2–3 billion by the third year after completion and expects the deal to be accretive to earnings per share by year two.
Industry groups, including the Directors Guild of America and Cinema United, have raised concerns about the impact on movie theaters, while regulators are expected to scrutinize the deal over antitrust issues. Netflix has pledged to continue supporting theatrical releases, with Warner Bros.’ cinema commitments running through 2029.
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav hailed the agreement, saying it “combines two of the greatest storytelling companies in the world to bring to even more people the entertainment they love.”
Observers note that the acquisition comes 15 years after former Time Warner chief Jeff Bewkes dismissed Netflix as “the Albanian army,” underscoring the dramatic shift in the entertainment landscape.
A major shake‑up rocks viewers and subscribers of DSTV/GOTV as many channels are set to shut down and be removed on January 1, 2026.
The trigger for the upcoming shut‑down is a breakdown in negotiations between the owners of multiple global channels and the pay‑TV operator.
As of December 2025, the deal between Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) and DStv/GOtv has expired and the two parties have not reached a renewal agreement.
Without a new carriage/distribution agreement, the channels belonging to WBD risk being pulled off the DStv/GOtv line‑up.
This is the most significant content cutback the service has seen in years.
The affected channels are:
Discovery Channel
TLC
Cartoonito
Cartoon Network
CNN International
Food Network
The Travel Channel
TNT
Investigation Discovery
Real Time
HGTV
Discovery Family
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