How Majek Fashek, 2Face light up COSON’s 5th anniversary

The Lagos Airport Hotel, venue of this year’s Copyright Society of Nigeria, (COSON), a Collective Management Organisation, came alive when Majek Fashek and 2face Idibia thrilled dignitaries at COSON’s 5th anniversary celebration. Fans dubbed it the ‘collaboration of the century’.
 The celebration was characterised by the COSON Roll of Honour Ceremonies, a celebration of individuals who had contributed greatly to the defense of the rights of creative people in Nigeria.

During the event, the Director-General of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mr. Emeka Mba, was decorated with the Copyright Medal of Honour. Mba was selected chosen by the COSON Board because of his role in resolving the over four-decade  dispute between the music and the broadcasting industries in Nigeria over the payment of music copyright royalties.
The late Amaka Igwe was also entered into the COSON Roll of Honour for her exemplary leadership in ensuring that her TOP Radio 90.9FM station practised paying for the music they broadcast without having being chased to do so. COSON founding staff member, the late Mrs. Patricia Oloruntoba, was also entered into the COSON Roll of Honour for her unrelenting contributions to the COSON vision, even when all looked bleak.
 Speaking on the event, COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji said “for us at COSON, this is significant. We look back at where we came from and are amazed at how much we have covered in such a short time. Today COSON has over 130 reciprocal agreements with collecting societies all around the world. We practically represent all known music in the world today. We also have music copyright agreements with the broadcast industry, the hotel industry in Nigeria and several other categories of music users in Nigeria today.
“We couldn’t have achieved all of these without the support of distinguished Nigerians to whom we are grateful. While we look back in thanksgiving at our journey so far, we look forward with determination and great zeal because we are resolved never to let down the creative minds in Nigeria.”
 Other artistes at the event included: Capital F.E.M.I, KSB, Konga, Bright Chimezie, Olu Maintain, Princess Anne Inyang, Sunny Neji, D’Lyte, Mr. Sam Onyemelukwe of Trace TV, Managing Director of MultiChoice Nigeria, Mr. John Ugbe; Mr. Francis Onwochie, Mr. Mahmood Ali-Balogun, Jenifer Eliogu, Edi Lawani, King Waleman, Mr. John Asein, Mr. Justin Zhag, CEO of Startimes amongst others.