A Federal High Court has ordered telecom giant Airtel Nigeria to pay a whopping ₦210 million in damages for the unauthorised use of veteran broadcaster and media entrepreneur Mbanefo Obioha’s popular slogan and creative work, “Nigeria Go Survive.”
According to court proceedings reported by Punch, the judge ruled that Airtel unlawfully deployed the phrase — widely associated with Mbanefo’s long-running radio programme — in one of its promotional campaigns without consent, licence, or compensation. The court held that the slogan qualifies as protected intellectual property and that its commercial use without approval amounts to copyright infringement.
What the Court Said
The court stressed that creative works, whether in music, radio content, or slogans built over time, are protected under Nigerian copyright laws. It faulted Airtel for benefitting commercially from a phrase that already had strong public recognition and brand value, largely driven by Mbanefo’s years of broadcast work.
As a result, the telecom firm was ordered to pay ₦210 million as damages for the infringement, a decision many creatives say sends a strong warning to big corporations.
Why This Case Matters
This judgment is being hailed as a big win for Nigerian creatives, especially those in radio, music, and media who often complain of their ideas being exploited by powerful brands. Industry watchers believe the ruling will force companies to respect intellectual property rights and properly negotiate usage rights before deploying creative content.
For Mbanefo, the ruling is seen not just as personal justice, but as a landmark moment reinforcing that ideas have owners — no matter how big the brand using them.
