February 01, 2016 – Top rated musicians, song writers and composers among others will be in Owerri, the Imo State capital on Tuesday, February 16, 2016 for a major Stakeholders’ Forum for copyright owners in the South-East and South-South states of Nigeria.
Put together by Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), the historic event which will hold at the main hall of Rockview Hotel in the center of Owerri.
Also expected at the event are music publishers, performers, record companies, broadcast stations, hotels, night clubs, restaurants, transport companies., etc. from Imo, Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Delta and Cross River states.
The event will also be attended by top government officials including representatives of the Nigerian Copyright Commission, the Federal Government agency that regulates copyright in Nigeria. The Forum will be preceded by courtesy visits to key personalities and media organizations in Imo State.
Speaking on the event, COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji said, “COSON is ready for Owerri and we hear that Owerri is ready for COSON. The forum will be historic and very exciting. The messages we are getting from Owerri suggest that there is great expectation.
“We are bringing together diverse groups to chart a new course for Nigerian entertainment. The copyright revolution we have begun must spread so that we can create new jobs for the many young people who are unemployed in Nigeria and ensure that the environment is right for investment in the creative industries. Those who think we are bold have not seen anything yet. COSON is going to even be bolder in 2016”.
Speaking also on the Owerri forum, COSON General Manager, Mr. Chinedu Chukwuji said, “We are leaving no stone unturned in putting together a first class event in Owerri. The successes of our previous stakeholders’ events are indicative that we are making progress especially with the recent successful hosting of the Nigerian Digital Music Summit held in Lagos. I am confident that stakeholders across the country are willing to make the necessary sacrifice to make the process work. We are indeed looking forward to the Owerri Forum”
In the last five years, COSON has distributed hundreds of millions of Naira as copyright royalties to thousands of musicians and organizations in the music industry across Nigeria. COSON is represented by about 135 Collective Management Organizations.
