At the 12th Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards (AMVCA) 2026 held in Lagos, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State urged a united and uncompromising fight against piracy in Africa's entertainment industry. He warned that the sector's remarkable achievements could be undermined if intellectual property theft is allowed to thrive.
Governor's Warning on Piracy
Speaking to hundreds of filmmakers, actors, producers, and directors, Sanwo-Olu stressed that creative excellence and artistic brilliance would mean little if creators are denied the full economic rewards of their labor. He stated, "All of the great work you're all doing will amount to nothing if we let piracy take the shine out of all of this."
The governor acknowledged the growing global influence of African film, music, and digital content but lamented that piracy continues to drain revenue, discourage investment, and weaken the long-term sustainability of the creative sector. He emphasized that Africa's creative industry is driven by extraordinary talent, creativity, and intellectual capacity, which must translate into meaningful economic prosperity for creators and industry practitioners.
According to him, "We need to kill piracy in whatever form, shape, because we want you all to be economically sound, to have the full benefit, full economic benefit, of your sweat."
NCC Director-General's Call for Collective Action
Earlier at the event, the Director-General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) reinforced the need for stronger collective action against piracy and copyright abuse. While presenting the award for Best Unscripted M-Net Original, he reminded the audience that piracy threatens creativity and the livelihood of all whose talents bring stories to life.
Reaffirming the NCC's commitment to protecting creators and creative enterprise, he emphasized that the strongest defense against piracy remains a shared culture of respect for copyright works. He urged all stakeholders to unite in saying no to all forms of piracy and copyright abuse.
The strong anti-piracy messages delivered during AMVCA reflect the growing recognition that copyright protection is essential to the sustainability, growth, and economic future of Africa's creative industries.
