The Director-General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC),Dr. John Asein, has called for strengthened collaboration with MultiChoice Nigeria to foster a more enabling environment for creators and investors in the country’s creative industry.

Dr. Asein made the call during a courtesy visit by MultiChoice Nigeria’s Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Kemi Omotosho, and her delegation to the NCC headquarters in Abuja. He expressed confidence in Omotosho’s leadership, professional expertise, and strategic insight in driving growth within Nigeria’s rapidly evolving media and content ecosystem.

Highlighting the visit’s significance, Asein noted it provided a platform to deepen collaboration on issues critical to the sustainability and expansion of Nigeria’s creative economy. He acknowledged MultiChoice’s longstanding contributions to the audiovisual and broadcast sectors through investments in infrastructure, support for local content, and platforms connecting Nigerian creativity to global audiences, which have strengthened the creative value chain and enhanced local and international visibility of Nigerian works.

Dr. Asein welcomed MultiChoice’s “Back to Profitable Growth Plan,” noting its potential to improve operational efficiency, enhance customer experience, and reinforce compliance with copyright standards. He emphasized that a balanced copyright ecosystem—one that protects creators’ rights, secures investments for distributors, and promotes lawful access for users—is crucial for sustainable growth, particularly in a digital and interconnected environment.

However, he expressed concern over inconsistent judicial interpretations regarding the use of subscription broadcast services in commercial settings, such as hotels, and stressed the need for clearer licensing terms and regulatory guidance to ensure market stability. He also highlighted the importance of strengthening licensing frameworks, delineating rights and responsibilities between broadcasters and collective management organizations, and ensuring creators receive fair remuneration.

On enforcement, Asein drew attention to the growing threats of cable and digital piracy, including illegal IPTV services, unauthorized streaming, and signal redistribution. While NCC is intensifying intelligence-led enforcement, he stressed that collaboration with industry operators like MultiChoice is essential for technology deployment, intelligence sharing, and coordinated anti-piracy efforts.

He also underscored that enforcement alone is insufficient. Continuous training for the judiciary, regulators, and enforcement agencies, alongside sustained public enlightenment, is essential to foster respect for intellectual property. MultiChoice, he noted, is a key partner in promoting copyright awareness through its platforms, including national and global advocacy initiatives such as World Intellectual Property Day and World Book and Copyright Day.

Looking ahead, Dr. Asein emphasized a collaborative approach to emerging challenges in broadcast and digital content. He identified priority areas for NCC–MultiChoice cooperation, including joint anti-piracy initiatives, harmonized licensing frameworks, regulatory guidance on contentious issues, capacity building, public awareness campaigns, and structured industry-regulator dialogue platforms.

A statement by NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Mrs. Ijeoma Egbunike, quoted Asein describing MultiChoice as “not only a regulated entity but a strategic partner in shaping a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable copyright ecosystem that supports creativity, drives investment, and ensures lawful access to content.”

Mrs. Omotosho commended NCC for its anti-piracy efforts, including shutting down over 126 infringing websites, and reaffirmed MultiChoice’s commitment to protecting the creative value chain. She called for adapting to technological developments and strengthening strategic communication, regulatory frameworks, and capacity-building initiatives.

The MultiChoice delegation also included Mr. Shumani Greveda, Director of Regulatory Affairs and Government Relations, and Mr. Gozie Onumonu, Manager of Regulatory Affairs and Government Relations.