The Audiovisual Rights Society of Nigeria Ltd/Gte (AVRS), in collaboration with the Oyo State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, will convene a Stakeholders’ Forum for Users and Filmmakers of Audiovisual Works in Ibadan on Thursday, 27 August 2026.
The Forum, which is part of AVRS’s broader national stakeholder engagement programme, will bring together producers, screenwriters, directors, actors, broadcasters, operators of hotels and restaurants, television stations and other users of audiovisual works to discuss copyright, licensing, collective management and the sustainable monetisation of audiovisual rights.
The Forum will be held at 10:00 AM at JOGOR CENTRE, Banquet Hall, 1, Harvester’s Drive, Liberty Stadium Road, off Ring Road, Ibadan, Oyo State.
The Forum is being held under AVRS’s “…show ’n’ PAY!” campaign, which seeks to promote a culture of respect for audiovisual rights and encourage lawful licensing and fair remuneration whenever creative works are commercially exploited.
The campaign is based on a simple principle: where creative works are used to generate value, creators and rights holders should participate in that value.
The Ibadan Forum will therefore provide a practical platform for creators and users to engage directly on questions such as:
What audiovisual rights exist and who owns them?
When does the use of an audiovisual work require a licence?
What are the responsibilities of commercial users?
How does collective management work?
How does licensing revenue get back to creators and rights holders?
How can creators and users build a more transparent and sustainable relationship?
Rather than being solely a compliance exercise, AVRS says the Forum is designed as an open and constructive conversation aimed at improving understanding, cooperation and trust between rights holders and users.
AVRS Pays Courtesy Visit to Oyo State Ministry
The collaboration with the Oyo State Ministry of Culture and Tourism follows a courtesy visit by an AVRS delegation to Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on Monday, 24 August 2026.
The delegation was led by the Chairman of AVRS, Mr. Mahmood Ali-Balogun, and was received by the Honourable Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Ajani Olatunbosun, alongside the full complement of the Ministry’s management, including the Permanent Secretary.
The Honourable Commissioner and his management team welcomed the AVRS delegation with a warm and highly supportive reception, as the AVRS described.
At the commencement of the meeting, the Honourable Commissioner called for a minute of silence in honour of the late Nollywood veteran, Alhaji Taiwo Hassan, popularly known in the Nigerian movie industry as “Ogogo.” The late veteran actor’s remains were laid to rest in his hometown, Ilaro, Ogun State, on Monday, 24 August 2026.
AVRS expressed its condolences to the family, colleagues and the Nigerian creative community, while acknowledging the late actor’s contribution to the development of Nigeria’s film and entertainment industry.
During the courtesy visit, the Chairman of AVRS, Mr. Mahmood Ali-Balogun, gave a brief history of the Society and highlighted some of the milestones it has achieved since its establishment.
He explained that the purpose of the visit was to formally brief the Honourable Commissioner on the forthcoming Ibadan Stakeholders’ Forum, introduce the Ministry to the role and mandate of AVRS, and explore opportunities for collaboration between the Society and the Ministry.
Mr. Ali-Balogun emphasised the importance of creating stronger systems for the protection, administration and monetisation of audiovisual rights, particularly as Nigeria’s film, television, hospitality and entertainment sectors continue to expand.
He also explained that the Forum would provide an opportunity to bring together both creators and users of audiovisual works to address practical issues surrounding copyright, licensing and the commercial exploitation of creative works.
In his welcome remarks, the Honourable Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Ajani Olatunbosun, commended AVRS for its efforts to ensure that the works and rights of filmmakers in Nigeria are protected and monetised.
The Commissioner noted the importance of protecting the creative community and assured the AVRS delegation that the Ministry would support initiatives to improve the welfare of actors, filmmakers, and other creative practitioners, particularly those in Oyo State.
Dr. Olatunbosun further pledged that the Ministry would work closely with AVRS to ensure that the forthcoming Ibadan Stakeholders’ Forum achieves its objectives and makes a meaningful contribution to the development of Oyo State’s creative and cultural ecosystem.
The meeting therefore established a foundation for closer collaboration between AVRS and the Oyo State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, with the Ibadan Forum serving as an immediate platform for advancing that partnership.
AVRS believes that effective collective management requires more than enforcement. It requires education, dialogue, transparency, cooperation and practical systems that enable creators and users to understand their rights and responsibilities.
The Ibadan Forum will consequently seek to move the conversation from simply asking whether audiovisual works are being used to asking a more important question:
How can the value generated by the use of those works be fairly and sustainably shared with the people who create and own them?
AVRS invites stakeholders from across Oyo State and neighbouring areas to participate in the Forum and contribute to the conversation on the future of audiovisual rights management in Nigeria.
For Enquiries:
Audio Visual Rights Society of Nigeria (AVRS) www.avrsnigeria.com
