NEWS
Content Piracy is a Real Threat to Africa’s Creative Economy
The adverse effect of intellectual property theft was on the front burner at the 2024 edition of MIP Africa, held recently in Cape Town, South Africa. The annual trade show and conference, which focuses on the television and media market in Africa, featured an extensive discussion session dedicated to the spiral effects of piracy on African creatives.
The session, moderated by MultiChoice Group Channel Director: Premium Channels Waldimar Pelser, also offered insights from Chola Makgamathe, Chairperson of the Copyright Coalition of South Africa, Thandi Ramathesele, MD at Izwi Multimedia, and Tobias Maja, Senior Anti-Piracy Manager at Irdeto.
Speaking at the session, Ramathesele noted that “Piracy affects the entire film & television production chain, from executive producers to directors, writers, cast and crew – the perception that it’s okay to pirate content because big broadcasters have plenty of money is a complete misnomer.” According to her, stealing content affects our culture, our society and mutes our voices. “It’s not about taking money from big broadcasters – it takes food out of the mouths of our creatives – how many of our artists die without a cent to their name?,” Ramathesele added.
Makgamathe pointed out that piracy has a wide-ranging effect on entire creative industries because there’s still a perception that ‘being creative’ isn’t a ‘serious job’ like law or medicine. “The most recent figures I can access show that the cultural creative industries across various sectors in South Africa contribute at least 3% of South Africa’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) – R161 billion, which is equivalent to what the agriculture industry contributes,” she explained.
On his part, Maja said that content piracy across our continent is rife, largely because of outdated laws that aren’t fit to protect content in the digital age. “Outdated law makes it hard to prosecute people for piracy – and if they are prosecuted, the fine amounts to a slap on the wrist,” he says. “In many jurisdictions, law enforcement and even the judiciary don’t fully grasp that piracy is a criminal industry both making huge profits for itself and destroying the industries which help creatives pay the bills”.
He also disclosed that Irdeto had taken down 40 000 streaming links in 2024, adding that “We need everyone on board – including Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to help us take down sites. We can only tackle this if we work in a multi-layered, interdisciplinary way – together”.
The experts also stressed the need for a massive education drive and collaboration between the production industry, broadcasters, the legal fraternity, businesses, advertisers, and marketing entities. They submitted that partnerships are critical in helping raise awareness about piracy while urging the audience to pay for content to encourage creativity.
“On one hand, it’s heartwarming to know that your content is being appreciated by viewers on the other side of the world, if there’s no benefit to the people who created it, there’s no industry – and no more content to come. We love that viewers love our content and that’s why we make it – but having content stolen from us creates unemployment, impacts youth development and destroys the value chain. People will start to notice that the content they consume to relax or be entertained, isn’t there anymore – and it’ll be too late,” said Ramathesele.
The Africa-wide multi-stakeholder initiative, Partners Against Piracy (PAP), of which MultiChoice is a partner across our continent, is working alongside local governments and prosecutors to actively address the issue of copyright infringement. The initiative aims to strengthen government agencies through collaboration to facilitate information sharing, enforce IP laws more strongly and combat privacy.
MultiChoice South Africa signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Justice and Correctional Services on 7 March 2024 that reflects the South African Government’s commitment to fight broadcast and content piracy, which continues to drain the fiscus of billions of Rands, annually. This agreement was the first of its kind on the African continent and marks a line in the sand between those who pirate content and those who create and disseminate it.
Content piracy involves the unauthorised acquisition, use, sharing or selling of copyrighted content. Put simply, piracy is stealing. If you are aware of any individuals or organisations involved in piracy, you can report them anonymously at +27 11 289 2684 or piracy@multichoice.co.za.
By: Evarest Nnaji
Aviation is one of the most heavily regulated industries in the world, and for good reason. In Nigeria, where air transport plays a vital role in economic development and regional connectivity, safety compliance is not merely a regulatory requirement but a strategic necessity. While regulations, manuals, and audits form the backbone of aviation safety, sustainable safety performance depends on deeper cultural, leadership, and learning-oriented practices within organizations.Achieving this requires that the Nigerian aviation industry and its operators must move beyond merely complying with regulatory standards prescribed by authorities. True safety is achieved only when these rules are fully embedded in everyday behaviour. And at the stage when safety principles become second nature to every member of staff and, by extension, the entire industry, safety standard is said to have reach the best possible international level. When safety becomes part of daily practice, it fosters a culture that empowers pilots, engineers, air traffic controllers, and other personnel to prioritize safety at all times, even in the face of operational or commercial pressures.Having a culture of safety, coupled with the mindset that safety should be instinctive rather than imposed, should become a part of everyone who operates in the aviation ecosystem; only then can risk be adequately reduced.Championing Safety through Strong LeadershipLeadership plays a decisive role in translating regulation into practice. In Nigeria’s aviation sector, strong leadership means more than enforcing compliance; it means modelling safety-first behaviour.When senior executives visibly support safety initiatives, allocate resources for training, and refuse to compromise standards, employees are more likely to follow suit. Implementation and indoctrination of safety rules and reliability are most desirable and apposite, and a without-which-not in Nigeria oil and gas aviation where operations run into very uncommon territories of offshore deep water fields with no alternate airport, no navigational aids or full radar coverage to assist aircraft and crew in a case of emergency. Aircraft and crew would have to be equipped, trained and operated safely in a manner only best possible internationally aviation standards can guarantee Regulatory compliance improves when leaders communicate that safety is a core value rather than a regulatory burden. Conversely, weak leadership can foster a culture of minimal compliance, where rules are followed only to pass inspections rather than to protect lives.“Just Culture” NecessaryAlso, the place of a “Just Culture” cannot be overemphasised, as it is especially critical for the growth of aviation in Nigeria and across Africa. In a Just Culture environment, individuals are not punished for honest mistakes but are held accountable for reckless behaviour.Fear of blame or punishment, especially for mistakes, often leads to under reporting of incidents, which deprives organisations of valuable safety data. For Nigerian aviation to mature and compete globally, employees must feel safe to report errors and hazards. This openness strengthens trust, improves learning, and aligns local operations with international best practices promoted by organisations such as ICAO.Near-Misses: Source of Future StrengthNear-misses are powerful learning tools when properly analysed. In Nigeria, where operational challenges such as infrastructure limitations and weather variability exist, capturing and learning from near-misses can significantly enhance safety performance.Instead of viewing incidents as failures, progressive aviation organisations, particularly in developed nations, treat them as opportunities to improve systems, training, and procedures. By systematically analysing near-misses and sharing lessons learned across the industry, Nigerian aviation, which is growing, can build resilience and prevent future accidents.Ultimately, effective safety compliance in Nigerian aviation goes beyond regulation. It requires a strong safety culture, committed leadership, a Just Culture framework, and an organisational willingness to learn. When these elements align, regulation becomes not just a legal obligation, but a foundation for sustainable growth and global credibility in Nigeria’s aviation ecosystem.
Captain Nnaji is both FAA (USA) and NCAA (Nigeria) licensed pilot, and the Group Chairman of OAS Helicopters, a leading conglomerate in Nigeria’s oil and gas aviation sector as well as an astute businessman and philanthropist.
NEWS
Polaris Bank Marks World Cancer Day with Free Breast Cancer Screening for 100 Women NationwideLagos, Nigeria –
February 2, 2026: In commemoration of World Cancer Day, slated for February 4, 2026, Polaris Bank has reaffirmed its commitment to community health and social impact with the launch of a nationwide free breast cancer screening initiative in partnership with its NGO partner, Care Organization and Public Enlightenment (C.O.P.E).
The initiative is designed to promote awareness, screening, early detection, and preventive care, reinforcing the Bank’s belief that access to health services is a critical foundation for individual and economic wellbeing.
As part of this year’s World Cancer Day activities, Polaris Bank will provide free and comprehensive breast cancer screening for 100 women across Nigeria, while also supporting an on-going free prostate cancer screening programme for 250 persons across Nigeria it earlier sponsored for men aged 40 years and above.
The prostate cancer screening is being conducted at the Men’s Clinic, situated at 18, Commercial Avenue, Sabo, Yaba, Lagos, providing accessible, professional medical support for male participants seeking early detection and preventive care for prostrate.
Both initiatives (free breast and prostate cancer screenings) directly aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) through improved access to preventive healthcare and early detection services, SDG 5 (Gender Equality) by prioritizing women’s health and empowerment, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through strategic collaboration with civil society organizations such as C.O.P.E to deliver community-centered impact.
Educational materials, community engagement sessions, and digital awareness campaigns will be deployed to reinforce key messages around early detection, lifestyle choices, and the importance of regular medical check-ups.
Speaking on the initiative, Rasheed Bolarinwa, Group Head, Brand Management & Corporate Communications, Polaris Bank, emphasized that early detection remains one of the most effective tools in the fight against cancer.
By removing financial barriers and bringing screening services closer to communities, the Bank aims to empower individuals with the knowledge and resources they need to seek timely medical intervention.
The flagship breast cancer screening event will take place on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at the C.O.P.E Centre, 39B Adeniyi Jones Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos, from 10:00am to 2:00pm.
The exercise will be conducted by trained health professionals and volunteers, ensuring participants receive both screening services and educational guidance on cancer prevention, self-examination, and follow-up care.
Participation in the free breast cancer screening programme is subject to the following requirements: applicants must be women, applicants must be Polaris Bank account holders, and pre-registration is required, with selection based on early and confirmed submissions.
Eligible participants are encouraged to register via the official link: bit.ly/BCS2026.
While the breast cancer screening is targeted at women, Polaris Bank encourages men to actively support the health of their families by urging their wives, daughters, and female relatives to register and participate.
In parallel, men are also invited to take advantage of the on-going free prostate cancer screening programme for men aged 40 years and above at the Men’s Clinic, Sabo, Yaba.
//Ends
Lagos, Nigeria – February 2026 – First Trustees, a subsidiary of First HoldCo Plc., and a leading provider of trust solutions for individuals, corporates, and government institutions, is proud to announce its 8th Islamic Estate Planning Clinic, scheduled to take place on February 7, 2026, in Abuja, Nigeria.This highly anticipated forum is designed to educate and empower participants on structuring Islamic wealth transfer in today’s evolving world. The Clinic will provide practical guidance on how to secure and preserve legacies in accordance with Islamic principles, ensuring that wealth is managed and passed on responsibly across generations.The event is being hosted in partnership with The Metropolitan Law Firm and will feature an esteemed lineup of speakers, including: Professor Isah Ali Pantami, Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy; Professor Adam Abubakar, ESQ, Professor of Islamic Banking and Finance, Yobe State University; Professor Dauda Abubakar, Founder and Director, Dawood Research Institute; HE Aisha Babangida, Chairperson, Better Life Program for the African Rural Woman; Ummahani Ahmad Amin, Managing Partner, Metropolitan Law Firm; Barrister Mohammed Yunusa, Partner at The Metropolitan Law Firm; Ismail Rufai, Managing Director/CEO, One17 Financial Services Limited; Mutiat Olatunji, Al-ameen Trustees Limited; and Rotimi Obende, Head, Private Trust, First Trustees Limited.Together, these thought leaders will share insights on the importance of Estate Planning within Islamic law, highlighting strategies for safeguarding family wealth and ensuring continuity.First Trustees remains committed to providing innovative trust solutions that help clients preserve their legacies while staying true to their values.For further information or clarification about the Islamic Estate Planning Clinic, please send an enquiry email to: abimbola.ajinibi@firsttrustees.com or visit https://firsttrustees.com/- END –
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