The Copyright Society of Nigeria on Thursday night signed a historic music copyright royalty agreement with the entire broadcasting industry in Nigeria.
It was celebration galore at the star studded signing ceremony in Lagos, which brought to an end a prolonged disagreement between music and broadcast industries in Nigeria.
The disagreement spanned over 30 years and culminated in a major crisis in the last quarter of 2013.
The crisis led to the significantly publicised copyright infringement law suits filed by COSON against some of Nigeria’s broadcasting stations in 2013.
The Director-General, National Broadcasting Commission, Emeka Mba, and Director-General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission, Afam Ezekude, as well as the Chairman of COSON, Tony Okoroji, witnessed the signing of agreement.
Mba commended Okoroji’s doggedness and commitment to promoting intellectual property rights in the Nigerian creative industry
He said: “This historic event is not just about the Nigerian music industry but the creative industry at large.
“This is about the respect of intellectual property in Nigeria.
“Let us all see this as the beginning of better things to come for the Nigerian creative industry.
“This goes to tell other sectors that have been abusing creativity that the time is up.”
Ezekude also hailed COSON and the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria for sheathing their swords and coming to the table to negotiate.
He also expressed pleasure at the outcome of the negotiations, saying: “I did not realise that this day will ever happen in my time, but I am glad that it has happened.
“We are finally here and are part of history.
“This event is not just about the copyright industry but a great day in the history of Nigeria.
“This is also to prove to all that, as a people, Nigerians can do the right thing if they put away individual interests and take on national interest.”
He urged all parties involved in the agreement to keep to the letter and content of the agreement.
Ezekude recommended that payment of music copyright royalties should be a requirement for renewal of broadcast licences.
The Chairman of BON, Mallam Abubakar Jijiwa, said: “I am happy that after several months of heated negotiations, we are here as witnesses of this historic day.
“This is a new dawn but we must all work hard to ensure that we achieve the objectives of today.
“I want to assure all that members of BON and Independent Broadcasting Association of Nigeria will meet their obligations by this agreement.”
The Chief Negotiator in the BON/IBAN/COSON/NBC/NCC Joint Committee, Mac Emakpore, thanked the parties for ending the crisis, which, he said threatened the growth of the creative industry in Nigeria.
Emakpore said: “After several meetings down the line in the midst of heated arguments, we have finally come up with this document, which is being signed today.
“I give God all the glory for this progress made in the history of Nigeria.”
A representative of IBAN and renowned Broadcaster and Managing Director of Ray Power FM, Kenny Ogungbe, expressed satisfaction at the resolution of the crisis that rocked the music and broadcast industries.
Ogungbe said: “Every organisation in the broadcast industry will queue up behind the agreement we have signed here today.
“It is binding and we are proud that we have made history in Nigeria at 100.”
In his address, Okoroji explained why the crisis lingered.
He said: “There are many who had given up, believing that the problem will never be solved.
“Finally, we have sat on the same table with the broadcasting industry and made efforts to find a working agreement on important issues that have stood between our music and the broadcasting industries.
“It may appear like a miracle but it has happened.
“This agreement is, therefore, an important first step as we begin the journey to end the many bad habits that have made the creative enterprise unprofitable in Nigeria.”
Other personalities at the event included Julie Coker, Nigeria’s first female TV broadcaster; Hon H.A.B. Fasinro of Smooth FM; and Larry Izamoje of Brila FM.
The masked music star, Lagbaja, and Rub-a-dub master, Ras Kimono, also attended the event as well as many other music stars and broadcasters.
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