Via Dr Bankole Sodipo (Chief G.O.Sodipo & Co., Lagos) comes a press release, announcing consolidation of the collective copyright management sector in Nigeria. According to the press release, enthusiastically entitled "Government approval of COSON sparks wide celebration across the Music Industry",
"The announcement by the Director-General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission, Mr. Adebambo Adewopo ... that Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) has received federal government approval as the sole copyright collective management organization in the music industry has received wide support across the country.Afro Leo is checking out rumours that 20 April is in future to be declared National COSON Day, a national public holiday at which, amid due pomp and ceremony, Heads of State and leaders of the copyright industry will hold a parade at which a wreath will be laid at the Tomb of the Unknown Composer ...
Following the announcement, the COSON office in Ikeja has been inundated with congratulatory messages from music industry stakeholders from every part of the nation [Says Afro Leo, it is well known that Nigeria is a passionately musical country. This must have brought the national economy to a complete standstill ...]. Upon the receipt of the certificate of approval delivered to COSON by an official of the NCC, there was non- stop jubilation as members and staff of COSON joined in exceptional merry making [Hope the music they were partying to was properly licensed ...].
Among the many stakeholders who have expressed happiness at the historic development is juju music icon and former Chairman of the Nigerian Copyright Commission, Evangelist Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi who described the COSON approval as “excellent” and “the work of the Almighty” [Let us hope that, having dealt with the apotheosis of COSON, the Almighty will turn his attention to counterfeits. But IP is not easy. It took just seven days to create the World, while rationalisation of collective copyright issues in Nigeria required "many agonizing years"]. Multi award winning sensation, 2Face Idibia portrayed the development as “sweet and lovely!” while his manager, Mr. Efe Omorogbe exclaimed, “wonderful… wonderful… wonderful!”. Alhaji Dan Maraya Jos who spoke on the phone from his Jos base congratulated musicians across Nigeria for what he called “a monumental victory”
Elegant stallion and Nigeria’s Queen of Soul, Ms Onyeka Onwenu was in Abuja when the news broke. She called in to express her joy saying, “it may have taken many agonizing years but ultimately the forces of unity within the industry have prevailed over the agents of divide and plunder”. Velvety voiced singer, Sunny Neji was ecstatic at the news describing the development, as the dawn of a new era. Mr. Edi Lawani, President, Association of Music Business Professionals (AMB. PRO) observed that with the instant celebration across the industry, it is clear that the decision of the government is in tandem with the wishes of the stakeholders [Government decision in tandem with the wishes of the stakeholders? European goverments, take note!]. Mr. Lawani called on all industry stakeholders to immediately join hands to make COSON a world class CMO. According to him, anyone attempting to fight the historic development will be swimming against a massive tide ...".
