COSON inks copyright deal with Transcorp Hilton, Abuja

L-R: Mr. Yusufu Ishaya, Director, HR, Transcorp Hilton, Abuja; Mr. A.T. Kohol, Director, Prosecution Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC); Mr. Etienne Gailliez, GM Transcorp Hilton, Abuja; Chief Tony Okoroji, COSON Chair

L-R: Mr. Segun Awosanya COSON Consultant for the Abuja area; Mr. A.T. Kohol, Director, Prosecution Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC); Chief Tony Okoroji, COSON Chairman; Mr. Etienne Gailliez, GM Transcorp Hilton, Abuja; Mr. Chinedu Chukwuji GM COSON; Mr. Yusufu Ishaya, Director HR, Transcorp Hilton, Abuja 

 

 

Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), the nation’s sole Collective Management Organization for musical works and sound recordings has signed an important royalty agreement with Transcorp Hilton, Abuja. The agreement signing ceremony was held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja on Friday, October 17, 2013.

 

In his address at the event COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji commended the management of Transcorp Hilton, Abuja noting that their support for the Nigerian creative enterprise and the respect for the intellectual property rights of the people whose works help to lift the spirit of the nation, is significant and in tune with the history of the organization.

 

Chief Okoroji said “We in the music industry consider the hospitality industry in Nigeria to be an important partner in exploiting the huge creative potentials that exist in our nation for the creation of wealth and employment of millions of our citizens. We believe that we ought to be working more closely together to properly tap the enormous tourism potential in our land. This is why we have engaged the hotel industry in Nigeria in very critical conversation.

 

“We hope that the work that COSON is doing is enlightening businesses in Nigeria that in the new world economy driven by knowledge, respect for intellectual property is central to any sustainable development.”

 

Chief Okoroji thanked the entire members of COSON which includes some of Nigeria’s greatest music talents for their support, assuring them of COSON’s determination to ensure that that their rights are protected and their royalty increased.

 

Also speaking, the General Manager of Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, Mr. Etienne Gailliez said, “Our hotel has been existing in Nigeria for 26 years and over 90 years in the world and we have always been a big partner in how to make some emerging talents get audience. We recognize that intellectual property has value to which we have to contribute. We are now in a solid partnership with the recognized collecting society in Nigeria which operates on behalf of the artistes and I believe that this is the way forward to ensure that peoples’ rights are protected and the law is being observed.”