NCC, MultiChoice collaborate to advance sustainable growth of Nigeria’s creative industry
By Editor
THE Director-General, Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), Dr. John Asein, has called for strengthened collaboration with MultiChoice Nigeria to promote a more enabling environment for creators and investors in the Nigerian creative industry. He made this call during a courtesy visit by the Chief Executive Officer of MultiChoice Nigeria, Mrs. Kemi Omotosho, and her delegation to the commission’s Headquarters in Abuja on March 17, 2026.
While welcoming Omotosho and her delegation, Asein congratulated her on her appointment and expressed confidence in her ability to bring strong leadership, professional depth, and strategic insight to Nigeria’s rapidly evolving media and content ecosystem. He noted that the visit provided a valuable opportunity to deepen collaboration on issues central to the growth and sustainability of the country’s creative economy.
Asein acknowledged MultiChoice’s longstanding contributions to Nigeria’s audiovisual and broadcast sectors, particularly through sustained investments in broadcasting infrastructure, support for local content development, and the provision of platforms that connect Nigerian creativity to global audiences. He observed that these contributions have significantly strengthened the value chain and enhanced the visibility of Nigerian creative works both locally and internationally.
Asein also welcomed MultiChoice’s “Back to Profitable Growth Plan,” noting that it holds promise for improving operational efficiency, enhancing customer experience, and reinforcing compliance with copyright standards in Nigeria. While emphasising the importance of a balanced copyright ecosystem, Asein stated that sustainable growth in the creative industry depends on a system that protects the rights of creators, secures the investments of distributors and platforms and promotes lawful access for users. According to him, such a system must be fair, predictable, and responsive to the realities of an increasingly digital and interconnected environment.
He, however, raised concerns over emerging inconsistencies in judicial decisions regarding the use of subscription broadcast services in commercial settings such as hotels. Referring to some of the recent cases, the Director-General noted that divergent interpretations on whether such use constitutes private use or public performance have created uncertainty for stakeholders, including users and collective management organisations. He therefore stressed the need for greater clarity in licensing terms and regulatory guidance to ensure consistency and market stability. Asein further highlighted the need to strengthen licensing frameworks within the audiovisual sector, noting that clear delineation of rights and responsibilities between broadcasters and collective management organisations is essential to avoid disputes, eliminate double licensing, and ensure that creators receive fair remuneration for the use of their works.
On enforcement, he drew attention to the growing threat of cable and digital piracy, including illegal IPTV services, unauthorised online streaming, and signal redistribution. He emphasised that while the Commission is intensifying intelligence-led enforcement, effective response to these challenges requires deeper collaboration with industry operators such as MultiChoice, particularly in areas of technology deployment, intelligence sharing and coordinated enforcement strategies. The Director-General underscored that enforcement alone is insufficient to sustain the copyright system. He stressed the importance of continuous training for the judiciary, regulatory authorities and enforcement agencies to promote consistency in the interpretation and application of copyright law. He also highlighted the need for sustained public enlightenment to foster a culture of respect for intellectual property among businesses and the general public.
Asein identified MultiChoice as a key partner in advancing public awareness initiatives, noting that its platforms provide a powerful channel for amplifying copyright education and promoting compliance across the creative ecosystem. He also pointed to opportunities for collaboration in national and global advocacy initiatives, including World Intellectual Property Day and World Book and Copyright Day, as platforms for celebrating Nigerian creativity and reinforcing the importance of intellectual property protection. He noted that this year’s focus on intellectual property and sports presents a unique opportunity to highlight the importance of protecting broadcast rights as a foundation for the growth of the sports industry.
Looking ahead, the Director-General emphasised the need for a forward-looking and collaborative approach to addressing emerging challenges in the broadcast and digital content space. He reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to providing regulatory clarity, facilitating stakeholder dialogue, strengthening enforcement, and supporting industry-led initiatives.
Asein further identified key areas for enhanced collaboration between the NCC and MultiChoice, including joint anti-piracy efforts, development of harmonised licensing frameworks, regulatory guidance on contentious issues, public awareness campaigns, capacity building for stakeholders, and the establishment of a structured industry-regulator dialogue platform. Asein concluded by reiterating that MultiChoice is not only a regulated entity but also a strategic partner in shaping a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable copyright ecosystem that supports creativity, drives investment, and ensures lawful access to content.
In her remarks, Omotosho commended the NCC for its strides in combating piracy, including the shutdown of over 126 infringing websites. She reaffirmed MultiChoice’s commitment to sustaining collaboration with the Commission to protect the creative value chain and ensure return on industry investments. She also emphasized the need to adapt to evolving technological realities and called for improved strategic communication, practical regulatory frameworks, and capacity-building initiatives.
On the MultiChoice delegation were the Director, Regulatory Affairs and Government Relations, Mr. Shumani Greveda and the Manager, Regulatory Affairs and Government Relations, Mr. Gozie Onumonu.
