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 Copyright Commission (NCC) has warned disc jockeys (DJs) against publicly playing music without proper authorization or a valid license.
NAN reports that John Asein, NCC director-general, gave the warning in an advisory issued in Abuja.
He said the commission’s attention had been drawn to the growing practice of DJs playing music in public spaces without obtaining copyright licences from their approved collective management organisations (CMOs).
Asein said under sections 9 and 12 of the Copyright Act, 2022, only the owner of copyright in a musical work or sound recording has the exclusive right to reproduce, perform, or communicate it to the public.
The NCC threatened to prosecute defaulters in a case that could lead to a N1 million fine or a 5-year jail term upon conviction.
“Engaging in any of these acts without the owner’s authorisation constitutes an infringement under the Act,” he said.
“Such infringement may constitute a civil wrong or a criminal offence under section 44 (7), punishable upon conviction by a fine of not less than N1 million or imprisonment for a term of not less than five years or to both.”
Asein advised DJs to obtain the necessary licences and pay royalties to the approved CMO before performing music publicly.
The NCC director-general added that the commission will arrest and prosecute anyone found violating the law.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the approved CMO for musical works and sound recordings in Nigeria is the Musical Copyright Society, Nigeria (MCSN),” he said.
“The Commission is aware that the Disc Jockey’s Association of Nigeria (DJAN), as the umbrella body representing DJs in Nigeria, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with MCSN.
“Under the arrangement, DJAN is authorised to work with MCSN to facilitate the payment of royalties by DJs nationwide, based on the tariff that DJAN had negotiated with MCSN.”
Netflix has increased its subscription fees in Nigeria for the third time since 2024, with the Premium Plan rising by 21.43%, from ₦7,000 to ₦8,500 per month.
This marks the streaming platform’s first price adjustment in 2025.
Other subscription tiers have also been affected.
The Standard Plan now costs ₦6,500, up from ₦5,500—a hike of 18.18%.
The Basic Plan has increased from ₦3,500 to ₦4,000, while the Mobile Plan moved from ₦2,200 to ₦2,500, reflecting increases of 14.29% and 13.64% respectively.
The latest adjustment aligns with Netflix’s broader global pricing strategy, which the company has linked to its ongoing investment in content and platform development. In a previous communication to investors, Netflix stated, “As we invest in and improve Netflix, we’ll occasionally ask our members to pay a little extra to reflect those improvements. Which in turn helps drive the positive flywheel of additional investment to further improve and grow our service.”
While the company did not explicitly cite inflation in its most recent update, its website indicates that local economic factors influence its pricing structure.
“Price changes are made to respond to local market changes, such as changes to local taxes or inflation,” the statement read.
The move mirrors similar pricing shifts among other major digital and entertainment services in Nigeria.
Companies including Google, DSTV, GOtv, and Microsoft have also raised subscription rates, attributing their decisions to continued inflationary pressures and a weakening naira.
National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) have jointly introduced “The Big Picture’, a flagship initiative under Nigeria’s renewed Digital Switchover (DSO) project.
Under the project, Nigerian households will for the first time, gain access to high-quality digital broadcasts via affordable satellite dishes, hybrid devices, and internet-enabled set-top boxes.
Backed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and in line with his Renewed Hope Agenda, this strategic shift marks a significant step toward transforming Nigeria’s broadcasting landscape by leveraging the country’s sovereign satellite infrastructure.
At the heart of the initiative is NigComSat-1R, Nigeria’s only communications satellite in orbit, which will play a critical role in delivering Direct-to-Home (DTH) broadcasts across the entire Nigerian territory.
This satellite-first approach eliminates the traditional dependence on terrestrial transmission towers, accelerating the nationwide rollout of digital broadcasting by over 65%.
It also offers a scalable, cost-effective, and future-ready model for expanding digital access and promoting national storytelling.
Key figures, including: Charles Ebuebu, director-general, NBC; and Jane Nkechi Egerton-Idehen, managing director, Nigcomsat, have welcomed this forward-thinking strategy, emphasising its importance in maximising the use of national satellite assets and ensuring inclusive access to digital content.
An estimated 10 million homes equipped with DVB-S2-compatible televisions or decoders will have immediate access to free-to-air channels, while others will benefit from next-generation hybrid devices that combine satellite feeds with online streaming capabilities.
These new branded devices are designed with the country’s youth-dominated demographic in mind over 60% of the population is under the age of 25.
They will feature pre-installed apps, voice search functionality, parental controls, and seamless integration with NigComSat’s Electronic Programme Guide (EPG), offering an intuitive and engaging user experience.
In a data-driven upgrade to Nigeria’s broadcasting ecosystem, NBC is also partnering with global analytics firm GARB to introduce real-time audience measurement technology.
This will enable broadcasters, advertisers and content creators to analyse viewership trends across regions and devices, helping to tailor content more effectively and drive higher audience engagement. The introduction of this system is expected to boost advertising revenue by as much as 300% by 2026.
The success of “The Big Picture” will rely on robust collaboration between public and private stakeholders.
The Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) and other content partners are expected to supply 60% of programming for the new 120-channel platform, using both original and repurposed content.
Meanwhile, local manufacturers will contribute by producing around 5 million compliant devices annually, a move projected to create over 20,000 jobs in assembly plants nationwide.
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