The Audio Visual Rights Society of Nigeria (AVRS) successfully participated in the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC) Africa Regional Committee (CAF) Meeting, held from 11th to 13th November in the vibrant city of Harare, Zimbabwe. This marks AVRS’s first-ever attendance at a CISAC statutory regional meeting, further strengthening its presence and engagement within the global collective management community. The conference was hosted by the Zimbabwe Music Rights Association (ZIMURA).AVRS was represented by its Chairman, Mr. Mahmood Ali-Balogun, who delivered a detailed presentation on the current state of Nigeria’s audiovisual sector, the state of copyright collective management in Nigeria, and the significant progress AVRS has recorded since its inception. His presentation received commendation from participating societies, though the Committee expressed concerns about the broader state of copyright collective management within Nigeria’s music sector. The Committee called on practitioners in the Nigerian movie sector to continue to support the work of AVRS, in defending their rights.The meeting addressed key industry themes, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and rightsholder protection, broadcast licensing, mutual support among CMOs, and the future of rights management on the continent.The CISAC Africa Regional Committee currently comprises 26 member societies from 24 countries, with AVRS standing as the only Nigerian CMO represented in the Committee.Reinforcing the importance of collective management, CISAC’s recently released Global Collections Report 2025 revealed that global royalties for creators grew by 6.6%, reaching an all-time high of €13.97 billion, underscoring the increasing value of creative rights worldwide.This year’s CAF meeting was attended by CEOs and Chairpersons of collective management organisations from across Africa. The sessions were chaired by Mr. Jotam Matariro, CEO of CAPASSO and Chairman of the CISAC Africa Committee, while proceedings were expertly moderated by the CISAC Regional Director for Africa, Mr. Samuel Sangwa.AVRS remains committed to deepening collaboration with global partners, strengthening its operational standards, and championing improved copyright governance across Nigeria and Africa.Olubukola AdeyemiGeneral Manager
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