₦airaland Forum

In Owerri, COSON Declares Full War On Unlicensed Users Of Music

Every seat in the Amaechi Hall of Rockview Hotel Owerri was occupied and many were left standing as the Stakeholders’ Forum of the wave making Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) took off in grand style on Tuesday, February 16, 2016. The major players in the music industry from every state in the South-East and South-South stormed the venue. They came in cars and buses from Imo, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu, Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Edo, etc.
Present at the historic Forum was Imo State Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha and several of his Commissioners amongst who were the Commissioner for Information, Youth & Sports, Mr. Chidi Ibe and Commissioner for Internal Resources and Pension Affairs, Dr Vitalis Orikeze Ajumbe.
Among the legends of the music industry who were live in Owerri for the forum were the likes of Rub-a-Dub Master, Ras Kimono; Zigima star, Bright Chimezie; Highlife icon, Paulson Kalu; Guitarist extra-ordinaire and Leader of the Oriental Brothers International, Dan Satch Opara; Highlife Star, Ugo Stevenson and the great Iroko of music across the east, Sir Morocco Maduka.
On the investment side of the industry were the biggest boys of Nigeria’s entertainment business such as Ideh Romanus Okonkwo, owner of Rogers All Stars, famous for such monumental hits as Prince Nico Mbarga’s Sweet Mother, Ikenga Super Stars, Bright Chimezie’s African Style and many more as well as music and movie distribution mogul, Chief Osita Okeke, better known as Ossy Affason. Present were many members of Music Label Owners and Recording Industries Association of Nigeria (MORAN) led by their National President, Mr. Calistus Okeke. Several broadcast stations and hotels across the South East and South-South sent representatives to the forum. Also represented was the Director-General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission, Mr. Afam Ezekude.
While welcoming participants to the forum, celebrated former President of PMAN and Chairman of the COSON Board, Chief Tony Okoroji thanked the government of Imo State for the warm hospitality accorded the COSON leadership. Chief Okoroji said that the forum had been organized so that participants in the music industry from the South-East and South-South of Nigeria can have an open discussion on steps to realign the music industry in the digital environment so as to boost income, create employment and contribute meaningfully to national GDP at a time of dwindling revenue from oil. He told the participants that as the demand for traditional music carriers like music cassettes and CDs goes down, collective management of copyright will play a more significant role in ensuring that the music business continues to be profitable. He called for all hands to be on deck to give full effect to the COSON mantra, “Let the music pay!”
Welcoming the participants to Imo State, Governor Rochas Okorocha praised Nigerian musicians for the impact they are having around the world. He singled out the music industry as one of the potential contributors to national wealth as revenue from oil continues to fall.
Governor Okorocha underlined the support of Imo State for COSON by pledging that his government would not only help in the fight against copyright infringement in the state but would immediately provide land for COSON to build a befitting headquarters in the state because according to him, Imo state has everything necessary for the success of the Nigerian entertainment industry. The governor also pledged close co-operation with COSON in the organization of important entertainment events in Imo State.
Delivering the keynote address titled “Harnessing the Human Resources Component of our Internal Resources: A Challenge for Copyright Protection”, the Imo State Commissioner for Internal Resources and Pension Affairs, Dr. Vitalis Orikeze Ajumbe said that the administration in the state is prepared to collaborate with COSON to find ways and means of closing the gap in the protection of the exclusive rights of its members and ownership of intellectual property and works of talent in the state and increase the members’ personal income profile.
According to Dr. Ajumbe, “It is in the best interest of the state government and all relevant authorities to advance the protection of copyright to create a safe market for stakeholders to get maximum benefit from their works”.
After significant deliberations, the forum resolved that unrelenting legal action be taken to ensure that all recalcitrant organizations who deploy music in their businesses in Nigeria without any copyright licence, including broadcasting stations, hotels, nightclubs, restaurants, transport companies, product promoters, etc. are taught a lesson and forced to obtain music copyright licenses from COSON and pay necessary royalties to ensure that the distributable income to COSON stakeholders is substantially increased.
It was also resolved that every necessary action be taken to ensure that the Government of President Muhammadu Buhari gives necessary directives without further delay for the Private Copy Levy Scheme to take off so that Nigeria can unshackle its music, movies and literary industries and start the process of providing the right environment for the creation of investments, jobs and growth in the economy.
Speaking on the forum, COSON General Manager, Mr. Chinedu Chukwuji said, “The COSON Stakeholders’ Forum in Owerri was a watershed event and a huge success. The participation was overwhelming. The arrangements were excellent. At the end, everybody was happy. I am 100% satisfied”.
Among the members of the COSON Board present at the big forum in Owerri, were Mr. Joel Ajayi, Alhaji Sikiru Agboola, Hon John Ewelukwa Udegbunam, and Mrs. Azeezat Allen.

Source http://www.viviangist.com/in-owerri-coson-declares-full-war-on-unlicensed-users-of-music

when you should be formulating policies to drive your IGR knowing the quagmire we are in, you choose to snap photo around. In case these state governors don't know, Nigeria is in a precarious situation that needs serious people in government and not people who move around identifying with musicians. I know they will come but those people are the reason aides were given to you

Governor umu azi!

SS/SE people doing their things

jmichlins:
when you should be formulating policies to drive your IGR knowing the quagmire we are in, you choose to snap photo around. In case these state governors don't know, Nigeria is in a precarious situation that needs serious people in government and not people who move around identifying with musicians. I know they will come but those people are the reason aides were given to you

please my dear try to understand we are on 4years static break, so while bubu is flying around dont be surprise to see our politicians taking selfies

Cmiller:
please my dear try to understand we are on 4years static break, so while bubu is flying around dont be surprise to see our politicians taking selfies

the president is doing something with his travels atleast his travel to s. arabia was to pressure and ask them to cut production of crude to prop up price of crude which is what we need but this man is something else. do not take me for a wailer please. we know who brought us here but that is discussion for another day

very lengthy article may Buhari help us. .

Ride on my governor. You understand where we have comparative advantage. Imo is the future and it has begun.

I knew that my guy Phyno is connecting with his latest ‘drop’. I just did not know how much until last Sunday.

Sunday was Valentine’s Day and I was caught up in Owerri, the Imo State capital and the entire city seemed to be on fire. I was shocked to find out how much and how wide the Valentine madness has spread. Those of us who live in Lagos love to think that everything happens in our city. Sometimes, we grudgingly cut some slack for Abuja and maybe Port Harcourt.

How wrong we are!

Boy, last Sunday, Owerri was locked down. Despite the new beautiful network of roads, there was heavy traffic everywhere. All over the city, provocatively dressed damsels held hands and smooched with their beaus with no apologies to anyone.

Owerri easily has more sassy hotels per square kilometer than any other city in Nigeria and the hotels are well run. On Valentine’s Day, the hotels tried to outdo each other. There was music, comedy and fun everywhere.

In my job, I travel quite a bit. As a result, I have seen top hotel rooms in top cities in nearly every continent across the world. This past Valentine’s Day, I had the pleasure of spending my time in one of the best hotel rooms I ever stayed in. Not in Paris, Geneva, Las Vegas or any other exotic city, it was in Owerri! I am not talking about the well-known Concorde Hotel which today is much better than when it was first built.

Believe me Owerri which not long ago was a glorified village is rapidly becoming an exotic city, remarkably clean with some great roads, it’s own international convention center, it’s own man-made water falls in the city and some smartly dressed traffic control officials.

Owerri even has its own ‘Freedom Square’ where you can go and say anything you want and curse the governor as much as you like and nobody is allowed to arrest you! Exotic houses are springing up all over the city too.

On Valentine’s Day, I invited over my cousin’s wife and her kids. When they arrived, we stepped over to the expansive swimming pool area in the hotel. Mayhem is probably the only way to describe the gaily dressed crowd in the place. It was fun ‘agogo’! It took us quite a while to even get a place to sit.

The music was loud and the stand-up comedy raunchy and x rated. I thought it was a little over the bar for what should be a family environment. I was uncomfortable and glanced at my cousin’s wife, a Christian in every way. She was clearly having a good time with her boys and girls in their teens and twenties.

It became clear to me that despite my significant travels and Lagos residence, I was the bush man. While I was in my cocoon, the world has learnt to laugh at words like f**k and c**t. Sex is now openly discussed in front of mother and kids. That is the nature of an exotic environment.

I had thought that Nigerian Breweries ‘Ace Roots’ was not in demand. In Owerri, ‘Ace Roots’ is on fire and Star Radler is in demand. On Valentine’s Day, I saw people rock to the music of Davido, Olamide, Flavour, 2 Baba and more.

It was however delirium and commotion when Phyno’s ‘Connect’ blasted off the speakers. The people appeared to be in a trance. There is no question that Phyno has connected with ‘Connect’ in a crazy way.

Guys, I have heard repeatedly that nothing is happening in Imo State. It is a big lie. So much is going on. I never was a fan of Rochas Okorocha but it would be insane not to say the truth

South East/South South= Bread/Butter,5/6,Rice/Beans...South west/North=Egusi soup/Sugarcane,Bread/Okpa,Paw-Paw/kpomo.....apologise now and be in the moving train of United Southern Nigeria

Nice one rochas

bright chimezie, a music icon from the east.

I see Raski Mono.

g

Don jazzy didn't come?

Hmmmmm.. Smh for all these governors.
No first class innovative human and capital developmental projects insights at all.

Not surprised when they've the like of ini edo as special adviser. Wondering what her type will advice, if nt to build night club that offers u the opportunity to wine and dine with the governor.

I believe, some days, the rich will eat everything meant for the poor and when there's nothing left, the poor will come for the rich.



Check my signature for ur customised wristband

wetin dis 1 achieve na...ow much is dollar jare...lemmme ow much my beloved naira..is to 1 dollar

Okorocha is a shame to southeast so Imolites please kick dis man awta power

Just passing.

okay.

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abagoro:
Ride on my governor. You understand where we have comparative advantage. Imo is the future and it has begun.

do yourself a favor pls.....gerarahere!!!!

Sighs......

abagoro:
Ride on my governor. You understand where we have comparative advantage. Imo is the future and it has begun.

so u don't see any thing else to show us except picture of rockview hotel and another hotel? Smh for you

I love my imo state but I hate rochas administration.

This tori long oh!

These are the real musicians and not what we have in this indomie generation.

Bright Chimezie the Zigima

T

I see Ras Kimono!