The Audio Visual Rights Society of Nigeria (AVRS), Nigeria’s sole government-approved collective management organisation for audiovisual works, held its 9th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at The Zone, Gbagada, Lagos, with members, stakeholders, and top Nollywood personalities in attendance.
In his welcome address, Mr. Mahmood Ali-Balogun, Chairman of AVRS, expressed gratitude to members for their loyalty, resilience, and continued faith in the Society’s leadership. He reaffirmed AVRS’s commitment to its mandate of protecting audiovisual creators, strengthening copyright compliance, and ensuring equitable royalty distribution to its members.
The meeting’s agenda included the consideration and adoption of the 2024 Audited Financial Statements, the review of the position of the auditors, and the authorisation of the Management Board to carry out royalty distribution in line with Article 16 of the Society’s Memorandum and Articles of Association as soon as practicable.
Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of the Director-General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), Dr. John Asein, the Director, Lagos Office, Barr. Lynda Alphaeus conveyed the DG’s best wishes and reaffirmed the NCC’s continued support for AVRS in fulfilling its statutory mandate of promoting copyright compliance and protecting rightsholders’ interests.
Reflecting on the year under review, the Chairman described 2024 as both challenging and rewarding, noting that despite harsh economic realities, AVRS recorded measurable progress in licensing, collection, and distribution. He disclosed that the Society distributed over ₦100 million in royalties to members in 2024 and encouraged members to update their membership and banking details for seamless future payments.
On licensing and enforcement, Mr. Ali-Balogun highlighted AVRS’s active engagements in Lagos, Abuja, and other regions to ensure compliance, with support from the NCC and the Nigeria Police Force. He acknowledged the slow judicial process as a challenge being exploited by some defaulting users, but assured members that the Society remains resolute in pursuing justice and compliance.
Highlighting AVRS’s growing global presence, he announced that the Society is now a proud member of CISAC (International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers), GAVA (Global Audiovisual Alliance), and AFAS (African Federation of Audiovisual Societies). These affiliations, he noted, “create international opportunities for Nigerian rightsholders and enhance staff capacity through exchange and collaboration programs.”
On the issue of the Private Copy Levy (Levy on Copyright Materials), members expressed deep disappointment and disaffection over the delay in implementing and disbursing the levy, describing it as remuneration rightfully belonging to them. They called on the government and the NCC to expedite action on the payment of the levy to the respective creators and rights owners.
In response, Mr. Mahmood Ali-Balogun appealed for calm, assuring members that the NCC and relevant government agencies are working round the clock to ensure that the payment is fully processed and disbursed before the end of the year.
The firm of Olukayode Timehin & Co., AVRS’s external auditors, presented the 2024 Audited Financial Statements. After a detailed review, the Chairman’s Address, Audited Financial Reports, and Board Achievements were unanimously adopted by the general assembly, following a session of extensive questions and clarifications.
The meeting concluded on an optimistic note, with members expressing confidence in the Society’s direction and looking forward to a “bumper harvest” in the coming year.
In attendance were distinguished Nollywood personalities, including Monalisa Chinda, Fred Amata, Sani Muazu, Francis Onwochei, Zik Zulu Okafor, Emeka Ossai, Sony McDon, Mike Nliam, and Alex Eyengho, among others. The session was moderated by Dr. Chinedu A. Chukwuji, Intellectual Property expert and Collective Management Consultant.
In closing, the Chairman appreciated the NCC DG, Dr. John Asein, the Society’s solicitors; Creative Legal (Barr. Justin Ige) and Barr. Michael Akpan of Alpha Edge Legal as well as Consultant, Dr. Chinedu A. Chukwuji, for their invaluable contributions to AVRS’s continued success.
