Transparency is Core at COSON: Okoroji tells Licensing Officers

COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji has charged COSON licensing
officers across Nigeria 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.
"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."
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.
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.