Transparency is our watchword at COSON

Okoroji with the licensing officers

COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji has charged COSON licensing officers across the country to ensure one hundred per cent transparency in every action taken by them on behalf of COSON as transparency is the corner stone on which COSON is built. He made this call while addressing COSON licensing officers at the one day workshop on Music Licensing held at the COSON office in Lagos, recently.

 

The workshop which had in attendance licensing officers from the different states of the nation was organized by the COSON management to ensure more robust royalty collection for the public and commercial use of music and sound recordings in Nigeria in 2014. The workshop was also aimed at ensuring that every action of the COSON representatives is in line with the law and regulations governing collective management of copyright in the country and that the representatives are equipped with new trends in music copyright licensing around the world.

 

Addressing participants at the workshop, Chief Okoroji said, “COSON has a duty to fully account to the regulatory agency, the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), the members who are owners of the society, the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and the International Confederation of Authors& Composers (CISAC), the world-wide organization to which COSON and other collective management organizations in 121 countries belong. Our duty to fully account is not negotiable and will not be abbreviated.’

 

Chief Okoroji requested any of the representatives who may find it inconvenient to maintain the very high level of discipline required by COSON to withdraw immediately as COSON is determined to maintain zero tolerance of fraud or insensitivity to appropriate financial management standards. According to Okoroji, ‘transparency is ‘Job No. 1’ at COSON. It has taken us a long time and a lot of sweat to build an institution like COSON of which we are proud. The Federal Government approval of COSON is based on trust. The faith of the many CMOs around the world who have reciprocal agreements with COSON is based on trust. Our members must continue to have faith and trust in us and anyone whose action will dent that trust will not only be removed, we will make sure that he is fully prosecuted’

 

The COSON Chairman also said: “You must be bold as I implore you to see yourselves as an integral part of the development of creativity in our country. We owe our young creative minds and even our unborn generations a suitable environment where their creativity can thrive. We must come to that point where every Nigerian begins to show respect for intellectual property. We need to encourage this industry which can guarantee jobs for our teeming unemployed youths. As you go about your licensing jobs dutifully, bear in mind that you are not just serving humanity but you are also serving God”.

 

During the workshop, the participants were guided through the provisions of the law, the basket of rights available to the copyright owner, the legal basis for each licence that may be issued and the various legal remedies if a user refuses to comply.

 

One of the highlights of the workshop was the issue of enforcement mechanisms against recalcitrant users of music and sound recording which was raised by COSON FCT representative, Mr. Segun Awosanya. It was agreed that to ensure desired success across the country, recalcitrant users are made to bear appropriate consequences in keeping with the law. One of the participants, Mr. Kazie Uko, a representative in Lagos sought for the continuous public enlightenment which COSON has become renowned for as this will help guarantee necessary back up for the work of the licensing team.

 

In his remarks, COSON Coordinator in Edo/Delta States, Prince Biodun Egwakhide, thanked the Board and the Management of COSON for putting together the workshop. He promised total commitment of the representatives in ensuring that music users across the country are fully licensed. Prince Egwakhide encouraged other licensing officers to be firm with the knowledge that they are operating within the ambit of the law.

 

The workshop was also attended by Senior Licensing Executives from the Headquarters such as Mr. Chibueze Okereke and Mr. Efe Enaohwo. Ms. Bernice Eriemeighe, COSON Head of Finance & Administration also participated in the workshop coordinated by COSON General Manager, Mr. Chinedu Chukwuji who expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the human capacity building event.