COSON AGM holds May 20

  

Okoroji

The full Board of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) rose from a two day meeting in Lagos last week during which several important decisions were taken to ensure that COSON continues to thrive as Africa’s fastest growing collective management organization. SHOWBIZPLUSNG gathered that the meeting was presided over by Chief Tony Okoroji, Chairman of the society. The Board also reviewed the report of the management on critical issues.

Among the many important decisions taken was that May 20, 2014 be set aside for the fourth Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the society and for the meeting to be held in Lagos. The Annual General meeting will coincide with the celebration of the fourth anniversary of the approval of COSON by the Federal Government as the nation’s sole Collective Management Organization for musical works and sound recordings, a development which unleashed the revolution in copyright royalty collection and distribution in Nigeria.

At the Annual General Meeting, the report of the auditors to the members of the society will be reviewed and elections to any vacant positions on the Board will be held.

During the board meeting, the relationship between COSON and the broadcasting institutions in Nigeria was also reviewed. The Board commended COSON members across the country for their steadfastness and commitment to the mission of the society during the recent events related to the payment of copyright royalties by broadcasting stations in Nigeria.

The first day of the COSON board meeting was dedicated to training of the members of the Board on Modern Trends in Collective Management and Related Governance Issues. The training was conducted by Mr. Robert Hooijer, one of the most respected experts on copyright collective management in the world. Mr. Hooijer, a former Chief Executive Officer of the Paris based International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC) was for a long period Chief Executive Officer of Africa’s biggest CMO, Southern African Music Rights Organization (SAMRO).

Mr. Hooijer was in the country for the second time in one year to provide the COSON management cadre with a one week intensive training programme through different aspects of modern collective management including Licensing, Membership, Distribution, Tariff Setting and Accounting.

Among those who attended the management training are Ms. Bernice Eriemeghe, Head of Finance and Administration; Mr. Vincent Adawaisi, Head of Membership; Mr. Isa Aruna, Head of DataTech; Mr. Chibueze Okereke, Head of Licensing; Mr. Efe Enahowo, Senior Executive, Licensing and Ms. Mayree Uket, New Media.

Speaking on the developments, COSON General Manager, Mr. Chinedu Chukwuji said ‘the events of last week emphasize the core values of COSON. The 4^th AGM in four years apart from several Extra-Ordinary General Meetings in between is evidence of an organization that is totally dedicated to complying with the rules and regulations and keeping the membership informed on every subject. Ask the agencies that regulate us and they will tell you that at COSON, transparency and accountability are at the heart of our corporate personality and that we take every measure to maintain a world class standard. Our continued investment in the training of the members of our Board and our operatives is because we are focused on being the best in the world. Knowledge is power. A COSON leadership made up of very knowledgeable people is a huge asset to the creative industry in Nigeria.’