Tag: Okoroji

  • Why actor-producers are powerful – Okoroji

    Why actor-producers are powerful – Okoroji

    Filmmaker, Chima Okoroji has shed light on the changing landscape of Nollywood, where actors – producers have become dominant forces.

    According to Okoroji better known as Chimex, actor-producers, who have gained popularity and influence through their acting careers, now wield significant control over film productions.

    This shift in dynamics highlights the challenges faced by traditional producers in Nollywood and the evolving nature of the industry.

    In Chimex words: “There are two types of producers in Nollywood: producers and actor-producers. The latter, created by viewers who have made them stars, wield significant influence over producers. As a result, producers are often at the mercy of actor-producers, who dictate how productions should be run. Actor-producers have become so powerful that they produce their own movies and also produce films for their fellow actor-producers, leaving traditional producers waiting.

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    “After keeping producers waiting for months, actor-producers often develop a dismissive attitude towards them. Consequently, many producers have been forced out of the market. They attempt to create new talent, but viewers’ preference for familiar faces makes this challenging. This is the harsh reality of the industry. To remain relevant, some producers have begun featuring in their own movies to establish themselves as actors.”

  • Caleb deserves national honour, says Okoroji

    Caleb deserves national honour, says Okoroji

    The Chairman of the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Chief Tony Okoroji, has called for a special national honor for Ken-Calebs Olumese.

    Okoroji recently made this comment in honour of Olumese, the creator and Guv’nor of the famous Niteshift Coliseum, as he turned 80 and launched a 328-page book entitled :My Niteshift Coliseum Odyssey.’

    On page 213, Okoroji wrote what he termed, The Phenomenon Called Ken Caleb Olumese.

    In his words, “If any Nigerian deserves a national honour, the Esan born workhorse and creative genius, Ken Calebs Olumese does. To the best of my knowledge, Olumese never held a government job nor did he ever do a government contract. He has however done more to create friendships across Nigeria, give impetus to many an aspiration and promote the culture of intellect, finesse and class than anyone paid from the purse of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

    The launch of the book made one of the highlights of Olumese’s extraordinary birthday which was graced by a galaxy of some of Nigeria’s finest citizens such as former External Affairs Minister, Bolaji Akinyemi; Channels Television founder, John Momoh; Eko Hospital originator, Olorogun Sunny Kuku; Vanguard Newspaper owner, Sam Amuka Pemu; Frontline political leader, Senator Bode Olajumoke; Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ezekhome; etc.

    Read Also: Onyeka Onwenu’s passage a legend recalled, says Aka Ikenga

    The book is in one part, the story of an exceptional Nigerian told in the inimitable style of Olumese himself. In another part, the book is a chronicle of the philosophies, ideas, inspirations and unique concepts that propelled one of Nigeria’s biggest successes ever in entertainment and socio-economic engineering, the Niteshift Coliseum. Yet in another part, the book presents succinct evidence of the cross-national appeal of Olumese, a man who broke boundaries, lit the fire in the careers of many young Nigerians, brought diverse people together and established enduring friendships across every nook and cranny of Nigeria.

    Among the many contributors to the dazzling book are some of Nigeria’s most exceptional thinkers and writers of a generation such as Newswatch co-founder, Ray Ekpu; respected legal minds, Ebun O. Sofunde (SAN) and notable constitutional lawyer, Mike Ezekhome (SAN).

  • Okoroji, Sama Tcha-Tchere, others receive awards at AmEE’s concerts

    Okoroji, Sama Tcha-Tchere, others receive awards at AmEE’s concerts

    Tony Okoroji, the chairman of the Board of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Ibrahim Sama Tchatchere, Cultural Affairs Officer at the Alliance Francaise Cultural Institute in Lagos, Afrobeat singer Agbeniyi Edaoto Olaolu, Oluwole Isaac Adetiran, composer of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) anthem, Bolaji Irele, a music enthusiast, along with others, have been honoured for their dedicated support to the advancement of fellow musicians and artists in Africa.

    The recognition took place at the AmEE’s FGG concert and Award Night held recently at Freedom Park, Lagos.

    The event, organized by CreativeM Entertainment, was a vibrant affair featuring artists from various music genres who captivated the audience with their performances.

    Speaking at the event, the organizer, Harrison-uke Frank, professionally known as AmEE, stated that the occasion served to celebrate his return to the music industry after recovering from an accident that sidelined him for years.

    He added that it was an opportunity to recognize and appreciate individuals and mentors who have significantly contributed to his growth in the music industry.

    He said: “I wanted to appreciate people who have supported me from the beginning till this moment, because I am a very passionate person, and I believe in people who are selfless with what they do. And I have always seen myself as using my music as a tool to give good morale to people”.

    AmEE, who sang songs such as Aye Yi Ole, from grass to glory and Sora which are his original songs said that he just loves to play good music. I play afro, Regae, blues, and country music depending on my mood and what I want to express.

    Read Also: Tony Okoroji, Orits Wiliki, Kenny Ogungbe set for ‘Wale Olomu Memorial Awards’

    “I was just trying to play around the minds of people and to tell them that you can always be whatever you think you want to be. People will tell you that you cannot be anything. If you have been told you are an outcast, just keep struggling.

    Keep doing whatever you know how to do best.  I will tell you one thing that the work of your hand will never deceive you”, he said.

    The artist who still lips as he plays his songs passionately, said “I want to make a mark and I want people to remember me for good music. I want to tour the world because my name is AmEE means water that cuts across different boundaries.  Make people remember me. You know, know me for good music.

  • Pomp as creative industry honours Okoroji

    Pomp as creative industry honours Okoroji

    It was indeed a day of pomp and ceremony when stars of the Nigerian creative industry rolled out the red carpet and celebrated a master of the industry, COSON boss, Chief Tony Okoroji.

    Held at the Kulture Yard, Ikeja, and organised by the Creative Industry Group (CIG), the event anchored by Kofi Da Guru witnessed the attendance of several creatives.

    Okoroji was presented with a Life Time Achievement Award

    The highlight of the evening was the performance of Okoroji himself who thrilled the gathering with three of his hit songs.

    Read Also: Alex Okoroji hosts Women Economic Forum

    Expressing his appreciation, Okoroji, who has provided consistent and unmatched leadership towards the building of the Nigerian creative industry, said: “I am overwhelmed by the unexpected massive show of love and support. I do the work I do not for money, awards or appreciation. I have given practically everything I can for no other reason but love of country. I began my dedication to promoting and protecting the rights of creative people in Nigeria when few people understood the meaning of intellectual property rights. Mine used to be a voice in the wilderness.

    “Today, I am happy that Nigerian music, movies, literature and fashion are making important statements around the world. I am convinced that what is happening is only the beginning. The demand for Nigeria’s creative products will shock many.”

  • Okoroji begins indefinite demonstration at Lagos court

    Okoroji begins indefinite demonstration at Lagos court

    Chairman, Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Chief Tony Okoroji, has begun an indefinite one-man demonstration in front of the Federal High Court, Lagos. Chief Okoroji said that his action was to draw the attention of the world to an attempt to blackmail a Nigerian judge to force him not to deliver a judgment written by him.

    The former president of PMAN said that he is asking all lawyers and judges in the Nigerian legal system to insist that the case file in Suit No FHC/L/CS/1259/2017 which he said was taken away in bizarre circumstances from Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court, Lagos, just as he was about to deliver judgment in the suit, be returned to the judge so that he can deliver his  judgment and any of the parties dissatisfied with the judgment can proceed to the Court of Appeal.

    According to Chief Okoroji, the key question Justice Buba was scheduled to answer in his judgment is this: Under Nigerian law, is the syndicate known as Musical Copyright Society Nigeria (MCSN) truly an approved collecting society and authorized to collect money on behalf of innocent Nigerian musicians? Okoroji was insistent that some people desperately do not want that question answered, hence the muscling of Justice Ibrahim Buba and the failed machinations to remove Okoroji himself as Chairman of COSON.

    It will be recalled that on December 19, the COSON General Assembly met in Lagos and condemned what it termed the brazen actions of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, in ordering the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), despite the Commission’s strong protestations, to blatantly go against Nigerian law and approve the MCSN syndicate to collect copyright royalties on behalf of innocent Nigerian musicians, while the Attorney-General knows that MCSN together with its leadership are facing seven different criminal cases at the Federal High Court which cases were filed by the same NCC, an agency of the Federal Government.

    The COSON General Assembly also called on President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the Nigerian Bar Association, the National Assembly, the National Judicial Council, the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the Acting Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to take necessary steps to save the Nigerian creative industry from the meddling of Mr. Abubakar Malami and the raging fire lit by him and ensure that the MCSN syndicate and the seven members of its leadership presently on bail and facing seven different criminal cases at the Federal High Court are fully prosecuted and no steps whatsoever are taken to let any of the accused persons escape justice through the back door.

    The General Assembly also condemned the heavy-handed actions to harass, arm-twist, intimidate and blackmail a Federal High Court Judge, Justice Ibrahim Buba, which actions twice aborted his attempt to deliver Judgment in the case brought by COSON against MCSN and the Attorney-General of the Federation challenging the dubious approval of MCSN.

    The Assembly also demanded the immediate return of the Nigerian Copyright Commission to the supervision of the Minister charged with responsibility for culture as clearly prescribed in Section 51 of the Copyright Act and bring to an end the continued anomaly created by the supervision of the Copyright Commission by the Minister of Justice, a situation which is expressly against the provisions of the law and which has resulted in the meddling of the Minister of Justice and caused enormous problems for the Nigerian creative industry.

     

  • Okoroji announces readiness for COSON Week 2017

    Okoroji announces readiness for COSON Week 2017

    The week-long celebrations of Nigerian music and musicians by the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) will return this October, says Chairman of the Society, Chief Tony Okoroji.

    The event, which started as COSON Music Award in 2013, and was last held in 2015, according to Okoroji, was deliberately skipped last year, because it was meant to be a biennial celebration.

    While announcing that the event will hold from October 27 to November 3, this year, Okoroji said: “From the beginning, we took the decision that the COSON Week will be held every two years. COSON Week is the ‘World Cup’ of entertainment in Nigeria or if you prefer, the Olympic Games. Seven mega events in seven different venues over seven days… The planning and logistics are mind boggling. You cannot do that every year. It is the same way the World Cup cannot hold every year. We skip a year to reboot and refresh and come up with more exciting ideas.”

    On what to expect during the event, the former President of PMAN said, “From October 27 to November 3, 2017, you should expect awe inspiring events different from anything you have seen before. You know me well and you know that I do not mess around. I am a professional and do not want my name ever associated with any ‘cut and join’ thing. Whatever I say, we will do, we will do. The COSON brand has become a very important national brand and we do not associate it with mediocrity. At the COSON Week 2017, we will further raise the bar of entertainment in Nigeria. In the first part of the year, we were committed to fulfilling our promise of delivering the historic COSON House to the Nigerian creative community. With the successful commissioning of the COSON House, a promise made has been kept.”

    Okoroji who also runs high-flying entertainment and events company, TOPS, is known for epoch-making event like Nigerian Music Awards (NMA).

    “As producer,” he said, “it is my style to always give you top rate entertainment that keeps you on the edge of your seat but also has intellectual depth. Anyone who was at the COSON Song Awards 2013 can bear witness to the fact that it was different from any other award event you have seen anywhere. It had flash and pizzas but still had a deep story line. You could feel the enormous pre-production work that went on before the event. That is who I am, always competing with myself. We will be linking the best brains and resources at COSON and TOPS to deliver to Nigerians an unforgettable experience. From now to November, COSON Week is it. Of course, one of the 7 big events will be the COSON Song Awards.”

  • Stars shower encomium on Okoroji as COSON House is launched

    Stars shower encomium on Okoroji as COSON House is launched

    Political bigwigs and entertainment gurus who gathered at the official commissioning of COSON House last Saturday in Lagos  have praised the leadership of Chief Tony Okoroji as helmsman of the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON).

    With a heavy vehicular traffic amidst the presence of security operatives, stars in the creative thronged the building, located on Oluwaleimu Street, around Allen Avenue, Ikeja.

    Music icons like Prof Victor Uwaifo, Sir Shina Peters, Chris Ajilo, Baba Dee Fasasi, Azeezat, Kenny Saint Brown, and Princess Ann Inyang. There were music industry gurus like Obi Asika of Cabal Entertainment, Dr Ben Ofoeze of Billtop, Mr Joel Ajayi of MULOAN, Hon John Ewelukwa Udegbunam, immediate past president of MORAN and Engineer Sharon Esco Wilson of MUPMAN.

    Other dignitaries at the event were the Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Moses Ekpo, who was the first Director-General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) and Professor Egerton Uvieghara, former Chairman of the Nigerian Copyright Commission.

    Also present were Ken Calebs Olumese, Guvnor of Niteshift Coliseum; Ayo Animashaun, who owns HipTV; Azu Arinze, Publisher of Yes International Magazine; Lawrence Wilbert of Agilent Wireless; Steve Judo of Channels Television; Nnamdi Agwunobi, CEO Greenbee Communications and Chidi Uloka representing the Director-General of NTA.

    Sir Shina Peters raised the flag of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at COSON House while Sir Victor Uwaifo raised the flag of COSON. Professor Uvieghara unveiled the sign that welcomes you to COSON House while Mr Ekpo cut the tape to commission the building amidst applause, fireworks and balloons released to the skies.

    Speaker after speaker poured encomium on the leadership of Chief Tony Okoroji for making the COSON House dream a reality. Chief Okoroji on his part thanked his Board, the management of COSON and the team of skilled Nigerian professionals who worked tirelessly to build COSON House in record time without any money from the government, any support from any donor agency or any loan from any bank.

  • You can’t bully our organisation, Banwo tells Okoroji

    You can’t bully our organisation, Banwo tells Okoroji

    Lawyer and record label executive, Ope Banwo has called out the Chairman of the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), for his constant attacks on the newly licensed Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria (MCSN).
    In a Facebook Live video session, Banwo, who is a member of MCSN’s Board, accused Okoroji of trying to bully MCSN.
    He said; “You can’t bully our organisation. Okoroji should know, that is why he is afraid of competition. Why is he afraid of openness? Why is it a big deal to him that MCSN gets a license? Why has he decided to put millions of Nigerian musicians in slavery and misery?”
    In Banwo’s words, he expects Okoroji to take the moral high ground by calling MCSN boss, Mayo Ayilaran to congratulate him on the recent development.
    “I expect him to be classy enough to call Ayilara to congratulate him. No, Tony Okoroji will not do that. Instead, he went to the newspaper to carry out his infantile attacks. No matter how much law he quotes, he will never be a lawyer till he goes to law school,” he added.
    In Banwo’s opinion, royalties from music can take us out of recession. That is why, he said, the MCSN is already working towards bettering the lot of up and coming artistes.
    Barely a week after being granted a license to operate, Banwo revealed, MCSN is already putting plans in place to hold an international conference to train musicians, especially the up and coming who are not signed on to any label on the basic things they can do to protect their intellectual property and make money from their music.
    Extending an arm of fellowship to Okoroji, Banwo said that both bodies can agree together to take this industry forward/
    “I won’t let up. For the next seven days, I will talk about this stuff because I have an interest in it. I spent over N100m on Stingomania Records. I want this industry to progress. All these fights you are having with MCSN and myself is costing me money. I’m not a meddlesome interloper here,” he further stated.
    In another live feed, Banwo paid a visit to Okoroji’s office to iron out their differences but met his absence.

  • Okoroji hopeful of better year for entertainers

    Okoroji hopeful of better year for entertainers

    •Says Private Copy Levy, others will improve lot of artistes

    After disbursing royalties to the tune of N200million to members last Yuletide, Chairman of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Tony Okoroji, has promised that 2017 holds more bumper rewards to entertainers, given government’s willingness to effectively activate a number of initiatives that were ignored in the oil boom days.
    Okoroji, in his New Year message to the industry, urged practitioners and investors in the industry to have faith and take every necessary step to professionalise, as the industry will play a key role in revitalising Nigeria’s struggling economy in 2017.
    Okoroji noted that government is beginning to understand the huge potentials of the creative sector and has shown the willingness to effectively activate a number of initiatives that were previously ignored.
    “Just before the end of last year, the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation assured me that he will take all necessary steps to ensure that the Private Copy Levy scheme is activated without further delay. That will bring a new stream of income to musicians, movie makers, authors, publishers, etc. The AG also promised that the Nigerian Copyright Commission will be revitalised and given the muscle to protect producers and investors in the creative industries. That should have a major impact on income.
    “At the end of 2016, we began a major conversation with MTN, the biggest telecommunications company in the country. We do have a significant meeting of minds with Airtel. I am looking forward to what has so far been an adversarial relationship with the telecommunication industry becoming a virile partnership in 2017. Imagine the possibilities if we begin to speak with one voice with the ‘telcos’ and work together to harness the huge potentials of the Nigerian entertainment industry for the benefit of all the parties and our country”
    Chief Okoroji also said that he has had several conversations with the Minister of Information, Culture & Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and that he is convinced that the Minister is ‘pumped up’ and wants to take those steps that will energise the industry.  He said: “The Minister is clearly taking steps to get the National Endowment Fund for the Arts up and running. This should provide badly needed funding for different projects in the sector. There is the growing engagement with the Tony Elemelu Foundation which the minister is supporting. Anybody who knows Tony Elumelu, knows that he has no business with failure.”
    He reiterated the acquisition of the proposed ‘COSON HOUSE’ in Ikeja and that in the second quarter of 2017, COSON should move its operations from Opebi to the ultra-modern edifice with the space and technology to properly drive a forward-looking organisation.
    Okoroji assured all members of COSON that the organisation will robustly protect their interests in 2017 and work towards increasing the distributable income to members.

  • Okoroji leads Glitz to the battle field

    Okoroji leads Glitz to the battle field

    FOR several months, the unique sound of Gwilz, a fast-rising artiste, born on October 1, Nigeria’s Independence Day, is being prepared for musical exploit in the studio of Tony Okoroji Productions (TOPS).

    The young man, whose real name, his promoters would prefer to remain on the reserve bench for the moment, appears lucky to have caught the fancy of one of the creative industry’s show promoters with a track record of excellence. Thus, if the record of Chief Tony Okoroji, former PMAN President and Chairman of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), a music producer and Repertoire Manager for the world-wide recording company, EMI, is anything to go by, then the former is truly on a fast lane to stardom.

    “I am Gwilz,” said the singer. “I am the king of the word, the Toastmaster-General and the Minister of Rap. I am lyrically licensed to kill!”

    Glitz, who gave a summary of his journey into music, said: “I grew up wanting to be a very good dancer but dancing in Egbeda (a Lagos suburb) was highly discouraging, so I gave all to music, irrespective of what everyone said to me. I am the third child of my parents and I have strived hard to become somebody in order to avoid mediocrity. At this point, I don’t think there is any amount of discouragement that can break this wed-lock of “my music and me”.

    He feels quite at home at TOPS. “We are all young and creatively crazy at TOPS: song writers, singers, producers, choreographers, managers, etc. We break every rule and create new rules. Our motivator, Chief Tony Okoroji, has given us a marching order. He has told us to go mad and create Nigeria’s new music and boy are we doing it? Nobody can stop me now because finally, Gwilz is doing that which he had for a long time prayed to do for free. The stupid thing is that I am getting paid for it!

    If boasting with one’s credential is a sure way to today’s musical height, Glitz has got plenty of it. He said: “I am sorry for all those guys out there making a lot of noise. Very soon, they will have to deal with Gwilz. I am the king of the word, the Toastmaster-General and the Minister of Rap. I was born on October 1 and I am lyrically licensed to kill!”