The Federal Government, on Wednesday, reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening intellectual property rights to ensure Nigerian content creators are fairly compensated for their work.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who spoke at the first National Conference of the Society of Nigerian Broadcasters in Abuja, assured content creators that the government would continue to enhance intellectual property protection.
The conference, themed ‘Broadcasting and the Political Economy of Content Production in the Digital Age: The Nigerian Perspective,’ was organised in collaboration with the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria.
“As a government, we will continue to strengthen intellectual property rights to ensure those content creators are adequately compensated for their works.
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“Over time, our regulatory institution; National Broadcasting Commission and Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria have been retooled to promote and enforced the consumption of local content in Nigerian.
“This is to empower our citizens and create more job opportunities for our teaming youths,’’ said Idris, who was represented by the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Press Council, Dili Ezughah.
Idris noted that the dynamics of broadcasting are rapidly evolving with technology, expanding both the reach of broadcasters and the diversity of how content is produced and consumed.
He cited the rise of digital platforms like social media, streaming services, and podcasts as game changers, allowing for more democratic and diverse content creation.
Nigeria’s content industry, he noted, is among the most vibrant in Africa, with Nollywood ranking as the second-largest film industry globally and Nigerian musicians gaining international acclaim.
He said, “The proliferation of digital platforms including social media streaming services and podcast had democratised content creation by allowing more voices to be heard.
“The Nigerian content industry is the most vibrant in Africa with Nollywood being ranked as the second movie industry in the world; our musicians have taken the world by storm.”
The minister also disclosed that the federal government was reviewing missed opportunities related to the country’s digital switch-over.
This, he said, would create more platforms for young Nigerians to showcase their creativity.
Idris reiterated the administration of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to advancing democracy through comprehensive reforms aimed at creating jobs, fighting poverty, improving infrastructure, and promoting inclusive governance.
The Chairman of BON, Salihu Dembos, emphasised that the theme of the conference was timely, given the rapid technological advancements and changing audience behaviors.
Dembos encouraged full participation from delegates to better address the challenges facing the broadcast industry.
“As broadcasters, we are tasked with navigating with these challenges, and it is on this note that we invite a speaker of repute to come and talk us on this important topic.
“It is hope that at the end of the day, participants will have something to take home that will of course better the broadcast industry and the society in general,” he said.
The National Coordinator of SNB, Yemisi Bamgbose, highlighted the historical significance of the conference, which aimed to unite media professionals across Nigeria after more than 60 years without a formal professional body for the industry.
In a keynote, the Chief Executive Officer of Channels Media Group, Dr. John Momoh, emphasised the need to maintain editorial integrity in the digital age.
He stressed that broadcasting continues to play a crucial role in shaping public opinion and driving societal change.