MyNigerianBlog.com platform fare based on these three criteria?

a)      Domain name: All domain names are registered with GoDaddy.com, a leading domain name registrarb)      Web Hosting: All websites are hosted with inMotion INC, also a top VPS and Dedicated Server hostc)       Web pages: The blog engine is the latest version of Wordpress (the same software that powers the popular wordpress.com), and is also said to be the best blogging engine in the world, with thousands of theme and plugins available for useThe question on everyone’s lip is: Why is it so cheap?

To quote the Chief technology Officer of the company:

“What made it possible to offer this otherwise expensive service at the cost of N6,650 is the fact that we have divided the existing webspace into the minimum possible sizes, thus, while 10MB might be enough to house an average business’ website, it might not be enough for businesses that require a custom application and database or that upload a lot of media in the forms of photos, videos, and audios. And even though there is an optional workaround (email forwarding), 10MB is also not enough for people that want emails on their domains”

Therefore for those requiring bigger space, access to more features, and their own email addresses too, there is a pricier pack, dubbed the ‘Premium’ web pack, that comes with 100MB webhosting space and a N21,650 price tag.

Other benefits of these packages are that since they are essentially blog engines, users can easily change content and look of their websites whenever they desire to, without needing to notify or wait for anyone else. And blogs can be easily moved from one host to another, without affecting website or ranking on Search engines.

GoldenSteps Enterprises is a web development company that specializes in building custom B2B and B2C applications, focusing on individuals and small businesses. MyNigerianBlog.com is their platform for dealing with the accessibility issues many face when acquiring their own websites.

###

If you’d like more information, or to schedule an interview, call

08033954301/08053091406 or write samuelanyaele@gmail.com.

The party is being packaged to bring outstanding Nigerians in the UK together and celebrate their achievements including Tunde Bayewu of the music group light house  family, songstress Sade Adu, international celebrity designer-Alexander Amosu and Nigeria British born artist Yinka Shonibare.

Last year the official Nigerian corner at the Nottinghill carnival was on Adela Street Kensal Street in London and with a recorded attendance of over 2 million tourists from different countries of the world.

Notthinghill Carnival is the second largest street carnival in the world. The carnival started in the UK as a Afro-Caribbean festival in 1965 and it has continually held annualy in the city of London since.

In 2007, there was no meeting point for Nigerian revelers at the Notthinghill Carnival in London. The first Nigerian corner debuted on August 31, 2009

Last year’s edition featured the likes of DJ Jimmy JATT, El Dee D Don, Gbenga Adeyinka, Ayo Animashaun, Kenny Ogungbe, Dayo Adeneye, Ayo Shonaiya, DJ Abass and several others on Adela Street off Kensal road end. This year, Banky W is billed to perform.

This year’s Nigerian corner is organised by Reve Entertainment and Sodium Brand Solution, and Supported by NET, Primetime Entertainment, BlackHouse Media, Digiprint and Hip-hop world Magazine

Harambe Nigeria, the organization focused for three years now on youth being agents of change within the agricultural sector, has announced its shortlist for the first ever agricultural business plan competition for young people between the ages of 21 and 35, launched on April 1 this year.

The competition received 70 entries in a wide array of agricultural activities including commercial production of broilers and turkey, wholesale production of catfish, a locally fabricated system called Agro waste processor for management of agro waste, bio fertiliser production and generation of Methane gas for cooking, lightening and electricity for its users, fish farming consultancy, urban agriculture through the use of vertical farming houses/homes in Lagos, vertical farming (multi-storey), roof farming, floor farming, maintenance services, home farm, produce retailing, amongst others.

27 applicants were shortlisted and they now move to the next stage of the competition which is the receipt of a full business plan. The final stage is one of rigorous one-on-one interviews and defense of business plans. The judges include are Mosunmola Umoru of Honeysuckles PTL, Tosin Anibaba of the Fatre Foundation, Lcy Kanu of Ideabuilders, an agriculture NGO and Peter Bankole, director of the Center for Entrepreneurial Development Services (EDS) at the Pan-African University.

There will be three winners, who will receive prizes up to 7.5 million naira in money and trainings with the EDS, Fate Foundation and Ideabuilders. In order to ensure that the winning ideas are successfully implemented and sustained, Harambe Nigeria will be coupling a financial reward with extensive training at renowned institutions such as the EDS and the Fate Foundation. The winning entrepreneurs will receive mentorship and their financial reward will be well managed at specific banks to ensure that they are directed towards the initiative. The winners will be announced on the 10^th of September at a cocktail reception, were they will receive their certificates.

“We are looking for innovative and sustainable ideas from young upstart entrepreneurs as well as established entrepreneurs with a maximum of one year’s work experience,” the organisation’s President, Tola Sunmonu, said. “The first phase of the process commenced on the 31^st of May. Applicants submitted an application form that detailed the key aspects of their agribusiness. The carefully selected winners will be unveiled at our conference and will have the opportunity to present their ideas to the audience.”

This year, Harambe Nigeria’s annual symposium will make the necessary transition from raising much needed awareness, to facilitating youth involvement in the sector and supporting those already engaged. In order to illustrate this transition, Harambe’s third annual symposium will be titled “Watering the Seeds of Tomorrow: the major feature of the symposium will be the agribusiness plan competition for youth.

“This year’s event will mark the culmination of our 6 month agri-business plan competition,” Sunmonu said. “In addition to presenting the winners with training and financial support, all participants will partake in a 2 day training session in order to work on their ideas with a team of trained experts from the industry. This 3rd annual Harambe Symposium on Youth and Development has one singular focus: providing young agric-entrepreneurs with the opportunities to build and expand their ventures.”

The training session will consist of workshops that target the specific needs of the participants. Participants will also be provided with relevant information that they can put towards developing their initiatives. This information will include details of various agricultural and business trainings that are available in Nigeria as well as opportunities to access credit.

At the end of the session, youth will receive certificates of participation, which they can use to build their resume. Participants are expected to leave the session with improved versions of their initial agribusiness ideas. This will make them better equipped to implement their ideas if they choose to do so in the near future.

On day two of the training session, participants will have the opportunity to start refining their ideas based on the information they gathered the previous day. In addition they will make posters that best summarise their initiatives. In the evening, Harambe Nigeria will host a cocktail reception for friends and supporters of Harambe Nigeria. Guests will have the opportunity to browse through the posters on display as well as interact with the aspiring entrepreneurs. The 3 winners will also be announced and presented with their awards at the reception.

“We are aware of the immense potential that Harambe Nigeria’s 3rd annual symposium has to revolutionize the way Nigerian youth engage with the Agricultural sector,” she said. “And we are fired up by the possibilities.”

Hmm.. Ok I am fine now. I mean aside from the world cup I have had other things on my mind. Trying to work things out but most of the time, I am working them out in my head. But yes I am back thanks for asking. Ok let’s move on real quick before I start talking about football and how Arsene Wenger is annoying me for not actually spending good money to buy good or shall I say better players? You see I have started again o. somebody gag me.

The Wedding or the Marriage

My friend recently dropped me an email to tell me she would be getting married soon. They hadn’t quite chosen the date but it would be end of November or the beginning of December, but whatever the date they had decided on she will let me know and arrange to have my aso-ebi sent to me. So in my usual charming self, I responded to the email and congratulated her. Wished her and her bloke well and said well if I am in town I’ll try and attend.

Interestingly, this email got me thinking about many things that involve marriage. Now anybody who knows me well knows I don’t like to go to weddings. I shall say why. When I was younger my grandmother used to take me everywhere she went. Be it church, Warri ladies vanguard meetings or parties, home fellowship, willing Knees, whatever it was, I went. Hence, one of my nicknames; “Portmanteau”. So on a Saturday I would get dressed and follow granny to one of their member’s daughters or son’s wedding and most of the time I was alone. As in, there was hardly any child my age. Are you getting the picture yet? Then I hit my teenage years, I figure all I wanted to wear is jeans and in a Nigerian wedding you wearing jeans to a wedding is simply not on. So I used to look for excuses not to go because I didn’t want to wear a dress. As I grew older, it soon became when is it going to be your turn? Haba it is a no win situation.

Don’t get it twisted I like weddings, I just don’t like big weddings. You know weddings that just seem like it’s all in your face, yeh those ones, I can’t stand them, but what I find an issue is people concentrate so much on the wedding rather than the actual marriage. C’mon!! I mean the wedding is a one day affair, the marriage is supposed to be a life time but then again, I guess people prioritise differently. The one reason I go to weddings, I mean after the obvious that they are my friends and they have found love and I am celebrating with them blah blah; is the food. You know I love to eat and especially Nigerian party food. Don’t joke. This babe likes to eat o.

I have often wondered why many people pay so much attention to the wedding and not the marriage. I mean have you noticed that the big society weddings that attract the crème de le crème of society never really last? On the wedding day you see the bride looking all regal and all and the groom at his sharpest but give these folks 3months into the marriage and they are at each other’s throat. What has changed or what does change? Well I guess many reasons. From we used to go to church every Sunday when we where dating to now I go to church alone and he plays tennis at the club, to he used to love me but now he just hates me.

I am not going to write and tell you the dos and the don’ts of marriage because I don’t know what they are and I doubt anybody really does. I mean for starters I am not even married so what do I know? Nothing if you ask me but if it worked for you when you were single and dating why doesn’t it work for you now? Is it that they were blind during courtship and this is assuming there was a courtship? How come when you dated, you dressed so sexily and smelled so sweet and now you just look run down, and that goes for you guys too? How come when you where dating he paid for dinner and now you are married you want to assert your authority because you now have the fancy bank job? These are some of the little things we do that I guess kills a marriage off, but I might just be wrong. Maybe it is different for marriage, who knows?

Back to this email I received. So after my reply, my friend responded saying the aso-ebi was pink & green lace and I should send my measurement so her tailor can sew my skirt and blouse for me. I nearly passed out with laughter. Chai this girl hasn’t seen me in years, that’s why she is emailing such things. I, lace, skirt and blouse don’t actually go in the same sentence. Now not that I can’t wear them and be girly, I just don’t want to. Period!! So I replied her saying thank you but she shouldn’t bother with my measurements and sewing the cloth that she should just keep it. She replies ah but you will be left out. I chose not to respond after that because it would entail us having a conversation that is longer than Lagos Ibadan expressway, you just know. So as I now begin to hunt for the perfect shirt with pink & green should I be attending this wedding, I will hope and pray that these lot focus on the marriage and not the big wedding.

By Aninoritse Odeli-Serrano

They will be honoured for outstanding contribution to science and letters which has put Nigeria on the world literary and scientific map, promoted learning and scholarship and bettered the lives of Nigerians.

The winners of The Nigerian Prize for Science and The Nigerian Prize for Literature will also receive their prizes at the event.

The decision to honour these eminent compatriots was a culmination of three months of extensive consultations and scrutiny by eminent panellists empowered by The Nigerian Academy of Science and The Nigerian Academy of Letters.

The science panel was led by the President, The Nigerian Academy of Science, Prof. Oye Ibidapo-Obe and the letters panel, by Prof. Romanus Egudu, President of The Nigerian Academy of Letters. Other members are Prof. Ekanem Braide, former Vice-Chancellor Cross River University of Technology, Sunday Bwala, Professor of Neurology, University of Maiduguri, Prof. Emeritus Ayo Banjo, two-time Vice Chancellor of University of Ibadan and Pro-Chancellor of University of Ilorin and renowned author, Prof. Zaynab Alkali.

Amongst the honourees are the iconic musician, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, his elder brother, Professor Olikoye Ransome-Kuti and eminent cousin Professor Wole Soyinka were selected for The Nigerian Hall of Fame for Letters and The Nigerian Hall of Fame for Science. Soyinka is the first African to win a Nobel Prize in literature.

Africa’s foremost novelist, Professor Chinua Achebe, venerable Ladi Kwali, the master potter and Professor Gordian Ezekwe of the Biafran Ogbunigwe fame, are also amongst the 28 eminent Nigerians who will be inducted to the halls of fame by The Nigerian Academy of Science and The Nigerian Academy of Letters. Specifically, the honourees were selected for the following reasons:

1. Adenike Abiose (1943–) is admitted into the Nigerian Hall of Fame for Science in recognition of her pioneering research on field trials and operational use of Mectizan for the control of onchocerciasis (river blindness)
2. Oluwafeyisola S Adegoke (1937–) is admitted in recognition of her monumental contributions to the study of bitumen (tar sands) in Nigeria
3. Oladipo Olujimi Akinkugbe (1933 –) is admitted in recognition of his contribution to the management of hypertension
4. Gordian O Ezekwe (1929-1977) is admitted in recognition of his contributions to product development and the improvement of engineering infrastructure in Nigeria
5. Thomas Adeoye Lambo (1923-2004) is admitted into the Nigerian Hall of Fame for Science in recognition of his introduction of Village Care System in psychiatry
6. Samuel L. Ayodeji Manuwa (1903-1977) is admitted in recognition of his eminent contribution to mental health and tropical medicine
7. Idris Mohammed (1942 –) is admitted in recognition of his original work in the development of polyvalent vaccine against meningococcal meningitis in Nigeria.
8. Ifedayo Oladapo (1932-2010) is admitted for his contribution to growth of civil and structural engineering in Nigeria.
9. Chike Obi (1921 –2008) is admitted for his monumental contribution to the area of modelling with second order non-linear differential equations.
10. Sanya Onabamiro is admitted in recognition of his work on the taxonomy and life cycle of Cyclops vectors of guinea worm disease which formed the basis for development of strategies for the successful eradication of the disease in Nigeria.

11.  Benjamin O. Osuntokun (1935 – 1995) is admitted in recognition of his contribution to his pioneering work in neurology in Nigeria.

1. Victor A Oyenuga (1917-2010) is admitted in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Animal Science.

13.  Umaru Shehu (1930 –) is admitted in recognition of his crucial role in stemming the scourge of poliomyelitis in Nigeria.

14.  Olikoye Ransome-Kuti is admitted for outstanding work in primary healthcare in Nigeria.

1. Chinua Achebe (1930 –) is admitted in recognition of his tremendous achievement in the field of literature, which has brought pride to African traditional cultures and earned him a worldwide acclaim as a master story–teller.
2. Jacob Ade Ajayi (1929 –) is admitted for his outstanding contributions to the study of African History.
3. Fela Anikulapo Kuti (1938-1997) is admitted in recognition of his prophetic, instructive and creative integration of the Nigerian idiom into world popular music.
4. Ayo Bamgbose (1932 –) is admitted to the Hall of Fame of the Nigerian Academy of Letters in recognition of his pioneering work in linguistics in Nigeria.
5. J.P. Clark Bekederemo (1935 –) is admitted in recognition of his contribution to the growth of drama and poetry in Nigerian.
6. Kenneth Dike (1917-1983) is admitted in recognition of pioneering contributions to the evolution of African historiography.
7. Michael Echeruo (1937–) is admitted in recognition of his contribution to theoretical foundation for the study of Nigerian traditional drama and his rebuttal of the European stereotype ideas about Africa.
8. Ben Enwonwu (1921 – 1994) is admitted in recognition of his distinguished contribution to the development of visual art in Nigeria.
9. Abubakar Imam (1911-1981) is admitted in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Nigerian indigenous literature.
10. Ladi Kwali (1925-1984) is admitted in recognition of her work which has brought Nigerian traditional pottery to international limelight.
11. Emmanuel Obiechina is admitted in recognition of his contribution to the study of West African novels in English and popular literature.
12. Christopher Okigbo (1932 – 1967) is admitted in recognition of his contribution to the growth of poetry in Nigeria.
13. Fela Sowande (1905-1987) is admitted in recognition of his contribution of modernization of Nigerian music and introduction of the Nigerian idiom into symphonic music.
14. Wole Soyinka (1934 –) is admitted in recognition of his outstanding contribution to world literature which has brought fame not only to Nigeria but to the entire African continent.

Ifeanyi Mbanefo

Manager, Corporate Communications & Public Affairs

It was an evening of high tasteand fine company as RedSTRAT, the content and communication company behind TheFuture Awards, unveiled an exciting new range of brands for young professionalscalled Y!

The event, which held at Rehab inVictoria Island Lagos on Sunday, August 15, was anchored by Beat FM’s Oreka andaward winning actor, OC Ukeje.

“Y! Magazine will – using the best young Nigerian writers,interviewers photographers, stylists and others – document the lifestyle,issues, trend and personalities that define the character and aspiration of theyoung Nigerian,” the editor, Chude Jideonwo, a Nigeria Media Merit Award winnerwho has been Copy Editor with NEXT Newspapers, said.

The magazine features agroundbreaking cover shoot with actress and singer Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde.Titled ‘Omotola is angry!’ the shootis anchored by the revered photographer Kelechi Amadi-Obi and stylist DimejiAlara. Other writers for Y! include Adaobi Nwaubani, Tolu Ogunlesi, WanaUdobang, and Onyeka Nwelue.

“Our reader is accomplished,stylish and informed, and is many things at the same time,” Jideonwo said. “He/sheunderstand the language of business and the importance of style. Our reader is independentminded and self sufficient: the upwardly mobile young Nigerian professionalsecuring his/her place in the rapidly changing global village.”

The event featured performancesby Freestyle, Jesse Jagz and Mi with comedy from Seyi Law. Selected celebritiesalso presented to the audience the kinds of young people Y! targets, with a presentation called I am Y! by actor GideonOkeke, Tosyn Bucknor and MI. There were also readings from the magazineanchored by CNN Journalist of the Year winner Tolu Ogunlesi and designer MaiAtafo.

The magazine was subsequentlyunveiled – accompanied by fireworks and the pop of champagne – by award-winningauthor, journalist and communication professional, Toni Kan, who is also amember of the magazine’s Board of Advisers. Other board members include AdesuwaOnyenokwe, publisher of TW, Storm boss Obi Asika and Reuben Abati.

The surprise of the night howeverwas the unveiling of a range of Y! brands apart from the magazine – RedSTRAT’sother platforms, which include a TV show (on Channels TV), a radio show(syndicated), a newspaper column (in The Guardian) and an event have all beenrebranded to align with the exciting new Y!brand.

“Y! is a multi-platform, 360-degrees media experience – TV, radio, newspaper, magazine, online  and event – all targeted at the young professional aged 18 – 35, with an emphasis on the 25 – 35 bracket,”its spokesperson, Kenneth Oliko, said.

Guests included KelechiAmadi-Obi, Yetunde Babaeko, Julius Agwu, Tee-A, Kaine Agary, Adaure Achumba,Taofeek Okoya, Jasmine Murray-Bruce, designer Bridget Awosika, Lola Maja,Biodun Caston-Dada, Noble Igwe, Gbemi Olateru-Olagbegi, Jasmine Murray-Bruce,Toni Payne, former MBGN Ene Maya, Glory Edozien, Tinsel star Gbenro Ajibade,Terry tha Rapman, Zara, Kayode Oresanya, Wana Udobang, Titi Adelagun, DimejiAlara, Uche Nnaji, Kunle Snatcha, Tosin Martins, Joseph Benjamin and AdaoraOleh, anchors of MTN Project Fame, amongst others.

The launch event was held inconjunction with Storm 360 and was supported by Nutricima, Rehab, dtalkshop,K2, Yvent Kouture, Digiprints, 12 Baskets, Aphobos Studios, and Nigezie.

Y! Magazine is now available with vendors and in stores nationwide. More information is on www.ynaija.com.

Professor Ibhadode won the award for his work entitled Development of New Methods for Precision Die Design.

L-R Prof. Mary Kolawole, Prof. Kalu Uka, Emeritus Professor Ayo Banjo, Prof. Awele Maduemezia, Prof. Theo Vincent, Prof. Dapo Adelugba, Prof. Tanimu Abubakar, Mr. Ben Tomoloju, Prof. Charles Nnolim and Prof. Gabriel Ogunmola at the World Press Conference to announce the winner of The Nigeria Prize for Science 2010 and shortlist of 3 for The Nigeria Prize for Literature 2010.

The Panel of Judges for the science prize today made their decision public through the Committee for Science in a world press conference at Oceanview Restaurant, Lagos.

In awarding the prize to Prof Ibhadode, the judges noted that he has made significant contributions to the field of cold forging. He developed a mathematical model for the design of forging die based on die expansion methods, an optimal procedure for the selection of the most cost effective die design.

According to the judges, “In an industrializing economy like Nigeria, the products of the precision die process are particularly important in the development of small and medium scale enterprises on which the economy depends for its accelerated growth. He has applied the methods not only for the steel industry but also for the development of aluminium products.”

Last year, Prof Jonathan Nok won the science prize for his seminal work in discovering the gene responsible for the creation of Sialidase (SD), an enzyme which causes sleeping sickness (Trypanosomiasis). His work will form the baseline for developing DNA-based vaccines against Trypanosoma. In 2008, Prof. Ebenezer Meshida won the coveted prize for his innovative entry, Solution to Road Pavement Destabilization by the Invention of ‘Lateralite’: A Stabilizing Flux For Fine Grained Lateritic Soils. Prof. Michael Adikwu won in 2006 for his work on snail mucin as a delivery agent in pharmaceutical formulations. In 2007 and 2005, there were no winners while Prof Susu Akpoveta Susu and his then doctorate student Kingsley Abhulimen shared the prize for their outstanding contribution to research in real-time leak detection in a network of pipelines, or other flow systems, carrying liquids. Their work reduces response time to leaks from 20 minutes to three to eight minutes.

Also at the same press conference, the Panel of Judges for The Nigeria Prize for Literature announced the names of the writers who made it to the final shortlist of three. Just two weeks ago, the judges had released an initial shortlist of eleven.

The competition for the literature prize promises to be as exciting as ever; the three shortlisted contestants are writers of considerable repute. In alphabetical order by surname, the writers (and their books) are:

Adinoyi-Ojo Onukaba      (The Killing Swamp)

Esiaba Irobi                   (Cemetery Road)

Ahmed Yerima               (Little Drops …)

Although there was no winner last year, in the past, the literature prize has been won by the very eminent poet and octogenarian Gabriel Okara and late Prof Ezenwa Ohaeto for their books of poetry The Dreamer, His Vision and Chants of a Minstrel respectively (joint winners, 2005); Ahmed Yerima for his play Hard Ground (2006); the venerable Mabel Segun for her children’s book Reader’s Theatre, Prof Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo for My Cousin Sammy (joint winners, 2007). In 2008, the young and almost jejune Kaine Agary won the prize for her novel Yellow Yellow.

As has been the tradition, the eventual winner of the literature prize will be announced at the NLNG Grand Award Night on October 9^th.

Members of the panel of judges for science include Prof. Anya O Anya, Chairman, Prof. Awele Maduemezia, Prof. Gabriel Ogunmola, Prof. Grace Olaniyan-Taylor, Prof. Lateef Salako.

Members of the panel of judges for the literature prize include Prof. Dapo Adelugba, Chairman, Prof. Mary Kolawole, Prof. John Ilah, Prof. Kalu Uka, Prof. Tanimu Abubakar.

After many years in the works, the content and communications firm is set to unleash Y! Magazine – which is targeted exclusively at Nigeria’s new breed of empowered young professionals.

According to the magazine’s official profile, “Y! will – using the best young Nigerian writers, interviewers, photographers, stylists and others – document the lifestyle, issues, trends and personalities that define the character and aspiration of the young Nigerian. It is essentially a trend setter and trend watcher: a cultural catalyst provoking and driving popular dialogue. Y! Magazine seeks to be to Nigeria’s youth culture what Vanity Fair is to America’s pop culture.”

The first edition hits the ball right out of the park, hitting all the right notes with exclusive interviews, delicious writing from Nigeria’s best, and an attention to detail.

Actress and singer, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde is on the cover, with a groundbreaking cover shoot anchored by two of Nigeria’s finest – Kelechi Amadi-Obi and stylist Dimeji Alara.

One of the pictures in that cover shoot portfolio (which will be made into a poster) premieres exclusively here, with Omotola in a spectacular pose as the symbol of justice. The magazine leaves behind all the glam and sultry photo poses we are used to, and gets Omotola all sweaty and stern on the streets of Lagos!

According to the team, the shoot took over one month to put together.

“We just can’t wait to unload,” the managing editor of the magazine, Adebola Williams, says with a laugh. “This is the new high priest of Nigerian youth culture!”

The launch of the magazine, and the entire Y! experience, holds at Rehab, Victoria Island on Sunday, August 15, at a strictly by invitation event, anchored by OC Ukeje and Beat FM’s Oreka. The event is held in conjunction with Storm 360.

You’ll be able to get the complete lo’down from the day of the launch – including where to get the hot-off-the-press magazine – on the brand new website Ynaija.com!

For now, you can Join YNaija on Facebook or follow YNaija on Twitter

The Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation & Minister of Justice expressed his confidence that the ongoing reforms will lead to better income for creative persons in Nigeria and a more stable industry that can contribute to the nation’s economic development. He expressed deep understanding of the issues involved in the collective management of copyright in Nigeria saying that he authorized the approval of COSON as the sole collective management organization in the Nigerian music industry and that he has the capacity to deal with any issues arising there from.

Ms Onyeka Onwenu, a member of the COSON delegation informed the Attorney-General that the approval of COSON has given new inspiration to many artistes like her across the nation saying that for many years she refused to record any of her works because there appeared to be little future for music in Nigeria. Present at the meeting was the Director-General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission, Mr. Adebambo Adewopo. Also in the COSON delegation were ace music producer, Mr. Laolu Akins, Chairman of Nigerian Association of Recording Industries (NARI), Mr. Toju Ejueyitchie and COSON Acting General Manager, Mr Chinedu Chukwuji.

FOR: COSON

ELIZABETH IKE (MISS)

Head, Membership & Communications