Broadcasting
NDLEA, NCC Renew Partnership to Check Piracy, Drug Abuse Crimes
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) have renewed their partnership in the fight against organized crimes, including drug trafficking and copyright piracy across the country.
Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (Retd.), Chairman and Chief Executive of NDLEA, and Dr. John O. Asein, Director-General of NCC, made this commitment during a courtesy visit of NCC delegates to the NDLEA Headquarters in Abuja last week.
The Chief Executives noted that drug trafficking and copyright piracy were inimical to national development. They also expressed concern that both criminal activities adversely affect the youths particularly, thereby destroying the country’s creative resource “who also represents the future of Nigeria”.
Brig.-General Marwa further stressed the linkage between drug abuse and copyright piracy and assured of renewed institutional support and capacity building to boost the enforcement capacity of NCC while both agencies would continue to share intelligence.
“We are going to collaborate and work together because the drug scourge requires collaborative efforts. All hands must be on deck, and we are happy to work together with NCC”, he stressed.
Earlier, the Director-General, NCC had commended NDLEA for supporting the Commission’s efforts at fighting piracy, through training of officers, logistic support and information sharing.
He agreed that drug traffickers often channel their ill-gotten wealth through copyright piracy to give a semblance of legitimate business. This, according to him, underscored the need for both Agencies to strengthen the partnership against criminal activities for the good of society.
While restating the commitment of the Commission to its mandate, the Director-General used the opportunity to commend the Federal Government for the new Copyright Bill which was recently passed by the National Assembly.
He expressed optimism that the Bill, when signed into law, would enhance the Commission’s enforcement capacity and serve as a catalyst for revamping the nation’s creative economy.
The Chairman, NDLEA, used the occasion to commend the Commission on the passage of the Copyright Bill and for the numerous achievements of NCC in bringing sanity to the creative sector. He gave further assurances that NDLEA would join other stakeholders to canvass for early presidential assent to the Bill.
Both Chief Executives agreed to a Memorandum of Understanding to formalize their renewed partnership.
The NDLEA Chairman used the opportunity of the visit to decorate Dr. Asein as an Ambassador in the Agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA). In turn, Dr. Asein thanked the Chairman for the honour. He promised to lend his voice to the campaign and solicit the support of stakeholders in the creative sector to also propagate the message that “illicit drugs are bad”.
Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, simply known as Fela, legendary Nigerian musician, has made history as the first African artist to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Fela
This is coming after he was posthumously honored with the 2026 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, becoming the first African artist to receive this prestigious special merit recognition.
Fela will be honoured in the early influence category this year, along with Queen Latifah, rapper MC Lyte, country rocker Gram Parsons, and Cuban singer Celia Cruz at this year’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame event.
The honorees were revealed on Monday night in the US, during an airing of American Idol.
Sade Adu, Nigerian-born British singer, will be honoured in the performance category.
However, Shakira, Mariah Carey, Lauryn Hill, New Edition, and Pink, missed out on the final cut despite being nominated.
Over 1,200 artists, historians and music industry professionals voted to decide the honorees.
The induction ceremony will be held on 14 November at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles.
National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) is set to launch so-called FreeTV, with over 100 channels for news, sports, education, entertainment and children’s programming in multiple Nigerian languages.
The launch is scheduled for May 15.
Charles Ebuebu, director-general, NBC, who disclosed this, said the new platform will offer free-to-air access with no carriage fees, leveraging hybrid satellite and internet delivery via NigComSat-1R.
The new plan is not an upgrade, the NBC stressed. This is a rebuild, according to Ebuebu .
FreeTV will be true free-to-air – no encryption, no set-top box barrier.
Any DVB-T2/S2 television will work. A mobile app will extend reach to phones and tablets.
The platform will launch with over 100 national, regional and state channels across sports, news, children’s programming, education, entertainment and cultural content in Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Tiv, Ijaw, Edo, Fulfulde, Ibibio, Efik and Nupe – all in HD.
Crucially, the NBC has partnered with a Bulgarian firm, GARB (operating since 2006 and recognised by the European Broadcast Union), to deliver a 94 per cent-accurate audience measurement system using return-path data, app analytics, demographic panels, and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
To qualify broadcasters, must commit their channels, produce a minimum of 60 per cent local content, and promote FreeTV until January 2029.
After that, a regulated tiered rate card takes effect.
According to NBC, the strategic rationale is simple: build viewers first, monetise later.
The document further revealed that six regional production hubs in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kano and Benin would function as local content factories, expected to generate 500 to 1,000 jobs per zone within two years.
Popular Nigerian artist Adekunle Gold has lent his support to the growing youth-driven movement behind The Gathering on 100, further amplifying conversations around what is fast becoming one of the most talked-about upcoming experiences among young Nigerians.
Adekunle Gold
Known for his music and his strong connection with youth culture and evolving creative expression, Adekunle Gold’s involvement signals a deeper alignment between the event and the kind of audience it is attracting, a generation that is bold, expressive, and constantly redefining what community looks like.
While details of his involvement remain understated, his visible support adds a new layer of support and cultural relevance to the movement. In a landscape where attention is currency, endorsements from artists of his stature often act as a signal, drawing more eyes, more curiosity, and ultimately, more participation, but beyond visibility, the significance lies in what it represents.
The new father has, over the years, built a reputation for embracing creativity in its many forms, from music to visual storytelling, fashion, and digital engagement. His brand has consistently resonated with young Nigerians navigating similar spaces of self-expression and identity.
From interactive experiences like live music sessions and open performance moments to fashion runways and content creation spaces, the event is designed to blur the lines between audience and participant. It invites attendees to move beyond observation and become part of the moment.
This is a concept that closely mirrors the kind of cultural shift Adekunle Gold has been part of, one where boundaries between creator and consumer continue to dissolve.
His support also reflects a broader trend within Nigeria’s entertainment industry, where artists are increasingly engaging with youth-led initiatives that go beyond traditional performances. Rather than simply appearing on stage, they are aligning with movements that foster community, creativity, and shared experience.
For fans and attendees, this adds another dimension to what The Gathering on 100 represents.
As registrations increase and conversations expand across social platforms, the movement is gradually taking shape through the collective interest of those drawn to it.
Head to gathering.com to register.
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