Manny Ita –
Veteran entertainers and cultural stakeholders in Nigeria are calling for urgent reforms to strengthen copyright enforcement and improve royalty systems for artists across the music, film, and publishing industries.
Industry figures say many Nigerian creatives continue to lose significant income due to piracy, weak enforcement of intellectual property laws, and outdated royalty collection structures that fail to reflect modern digital consumption patterns.
The push for reform has gained momentum as streaming platforms and digital distribution reshape how music and films generate revenue. While Nigerian artists have achieved global success, many argue that local systems have not kept pace with international standards for tracking usage and paying royalties.
Stakeholders in the music sector, including producers, performers, and rights managers, are urging government agencies to modernise collection societies and strengthen monitoring of digital and physical piracy. They argue that stronger enforcement would help ensure that artists are properly compensated for their work both locally and internationally.
In the film industry, Nollywood professionals say illegal distribution of movies online and in informal markets continues to undermine box office returns and streaming deals. They are calling for stricter penalties for piracy and better collaboration between regulators and digital platforms.
Writers and publishers have also joined the conversation, highlighting challenges in book piracy, unauthorised reproductions, and limited royalty transparency in the publishing ecosystem. They argue that improving intellectual property protections would encourage more investment in local literature and publishing infrastructure.
Cultural advocates say that strengthening copyright laws would not only protect individual creatives but also boost Nigeria’s broader creative economy, which has become one of the country’s fastest-growing export sectors.
They are urging lawmakers to prioritise reforms that align Nigeria’s copyright framework with global best practices, including stronger enforcement mechanisms, digital tracking systems, and fairer royalty distribution models.
Despite the challenges, stakeholders remain optimistic that sustained advocacy and policy engagement could lead to meaningful improvements in how Nigerian creatives are rewarded for their work across all entertainment sectors
