The banquet hall of Top Rank Hotels, Onitsha overflew to its brim on Wednesday, August 4, 2010 as the now famous train of the Select Stakeholders Forum of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) arrived the historic city.

The highly awaited train had on board some of the most celebrated icons of the music industry in Nigeria such as the revered star of countless hit songs, Sir Victor Efosa Uwaifo; ace music producer, Laolu Akins; the very unique Bright Chimezie of the Zigima fame; PMAN General Secretary Emeritus, Okoimoise Emmanuel Okoimoise; the ageless and time tested Tony Ozimba Grey; Chairman of Biltop Group, Dr. Ben Ofoeze; former PMAN President and Chairman of COSON, Chief Tony Okoroji among many others.

Welcoming the train, Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi said that he is in support of COSON 150 percent because a labourer is worthy of his wages. The Governor who was represented by his Special Adviser on Communications, Chief Chuks Iloegbunam called on every state in Nigeria to give COSON full backing to ensure that henceforth the rights of Nigerian artistes are respected and the exploitation of their works without appropriate remuneration is ended forthwith.

Speaking also at the grand event, the Director General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission, Mr. Adebambo Adewopo said, With the approval of COSON as the legal entity empowered to carry out the function of collective management in the area of music and sound recordings, the stage is finally set for Nigerian musicians and right owners in the music industry to have proper representation in terms of the management of their rights and collection of royalties due from the diverse use of their musical products. Opportunity has equally been provided for legitimate acquisition of musical works by users for the enhancement of their respective businesses in a manner that is less cumbersome and free of intimidation. It is therefore no longer acceptable for any person or entity involved in commercial exploitation of music and sound recordings particularly in terms of public performances to withhold or refuse to remit accrued royalties to the approved society.

Mr. Adewopo who was represented by NCC Assistant Director, Mr. Mike Akpan said as a result of the COSON approval, the expectation of stakeholders in the music industry and indeed the entire copyright community both in Nigeria and internationally has become very high.

On the big welcoming team for the COSON train to Onitsha was the National President of Music Label Owners and Recording Industries Association of Nigeria (MORAN), Honourable John Ewelukwa Udegbunam and his wife and the leaders of all the state chapters of MORAN in the South East and South South. Also present were all state Chairmen of PMAN from Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Delta and Edo states led by PMAN Chairman Anambra State and Cordinator South East, Chief Morocco Maduka. Also on the welcoming team was entertainment marketing guru, Prince Osita Okeke popularly known as Ossy Affasson.

Presenting kola nuts to the visiting team, Sir Rogers Okonkwo, Chairman, Rogers All Stars Group commended the Federal Government for the appr oval of COSON saying that the entire music industry within the South East is fully behind COSON and its first class leadership. The kola nuts were blessed by Chief Morocco Maduka.

Before the official opening of the forum, a minute silence was held in honour of late Chief G.A.D. Tabansi, one of the foremost investors in the Nigerian music industry and a COSON director who will be laid to rest in Nri, Anambra State on the 28th of August, 2010.

Speaking at the forum, COSON chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji said, Officially, this is a COSON Select Stakeholders Forum for all of us to interact, exchange ideas and find our place in the new collective management environment that has emerged from the reform process just concluded by the Nigerian Copyright Commission. In reality, however, this is a long awaited, long expected and long needed gathering of the nuts and bolts of the Music Industry in Nigeria to robustly and publicly declare that we are charting a new course for the Nigerian music industry and that we have embarked on a revolution to reclaim our industry for ourselves, our children and their children and to provide jobs for the teaming masses of Nigeria’s unemployed and to fully contribute to the socio economic development of the Nigerian nation.

For clarity we declare today, the 4th of August 2010 in the historic city of Onitsha that whereas the music industry in Nigeria was badly divided, we are today united in our cause, whereas we were very weak, we have found new strength and whereas we may have been blind, we can now see clearly that working together, we can unveil a very bright future for Nigeria’s creative talents and those who invest in these talents.

Commenting on the event, Sir Victor Uwaifo who expressed great happiness at the reception in Onitsha said, My support for COSON is unwavering as I know and trust the leadership. I am calling on all Nigerian artistes who are not yet registered with COSON to do so immediately for their own benefit. Zigima star, Bright Chimezie commended the high quality organisation of the Forum and said, ”I am happy to have made the long trip from my home village in Abia State to Onitsha for this historic day.” Fuji star and former Chairman PMAN Lagos State Chapter, Alhaji Sikiru Agboola aka Kolotiti said that he was leaving Onitsha with great memories of a day that the music industry truly came together behind a course. In the same vein, Mr. Joel Ajayi, MD, Choral Gospel Music who was on the COSON train to Onitsha said that a true revolution was unfolding in the Nigerian music industry and thanked President Goodluck Jonathan for the wind of goodluck blowing in the music industry.

The forum nearly assumed the nature of a major political rally as the COSON slogan ”Let the music play” rent the air. One of the highlights of the Forum was the big scramble for COSON registration form, which became exhausted midway to Forum.

Decorating the venue of the Forum were colourful banners of several members of such as Onyeka Onwenu, Ebenezer Obey, Dan Maraya Jos, Fatai Rolling, Sunny Neji, Tuface Idibia, Eldee, MI, Djinee, Kenny Saint Brown, Muma Gee, Ruggedman, Christy Essien Igbokwe, Nomoreloss, Omotola Jalade, X-Project, Koffi, etc.

Mr. Chinedu Chukwuji, COSON Acting General Manager said, I am overwhelmed by the turn out of the music industry to welcome the COSON train in Onitsha. The wall to wall support we have received in Onitsha gives me great confidence that God has blessed the work we are doing at COSON.