Showbiz
Okoroji Tasks Lawyers On Economy
By Dipo Olowookere
Chairman of the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Mr Tony Okoroji, has called on lawyers across the country to re-exhibit courage in the battle against the factors that have militated against the progress of the Nigerian nation and ensure that they stand firm in promoting the values that that will see Nigeria through its present challenges.
“No great nation in the history of mankind has been built by cowards and Nigeria will not be an exception,” he said.
Mr Okoroji observed that it is beginning to appear that Nigerian lawyers who used to form a bulwark against corruption and abuse of power have gone cold.
The COSON boss made these comments while addressing a large gathering of members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) at the 2016 Law Week of the Lagos Branch of the body, which took place at MUSON Centre, Onikan on Thursday, October 6, 2016 with the theme, ‘Judicial Independence and the Democratic Process.’
Mr Okoroji was insistent that for the Nigerian economy to rebound in a sustained manner, there needs to be a fundamental change in the nation’s mindset so that it is recognized at all levels of policy making that the economy of brick and mortar is gone and the knowledge economy has taken over.
According to him, respect for intellectual property rights is critical for the knowledge economy to thrive and lawyers have a significant role in ensuring that the respect for the rights of creative and innovative people becomes part of Nigerian culture so as to release the latent energy of thousands of creative and innovative Nigerians.
The former president of PMAN listed the people at the top of the world economy today–Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, J.K. Rolling, etc., and in each case observed that they are engaged in activities centred around the Knowledge economy.
“Do you think any of these persons would have acquired the enormous wealth they are associated with if they were operating in a Nigerian environment where the abuse of Intellectual Property rights is the norm?” he asked.
Mr Okoroji pointed at the significant progress COSON has made in so short a time saying that one of the key reasons for the progress is the robust and continuous use of the law courts to enforce intellectual property rights.
According to him, just six years ago, nobody gave COSON a chance, yet within the short period, COSON has collected and distributed hundreds of millions of Naira in copyright royalties to music copyright owners in Nigeria. In his words, “in a democracy, going to court is the one way to forestall the resort to machetes, brute force and anarchy.
“At COSON, when we go to court, we do not see the defendant as an enemy. We just believe that there is someone with whom we have different points of view and we have not been able to harmonize those views.
“We therefore take the facts and the law to a judge who is a trained independent arbiter to intervene. I consider the fact that we have yet to lose one case as evidence that our strategy is right~
Mr Okoroji asked the lawyers in the audience to advice their clients involved in intellectual property infringement that the landscape is changing rapidly and the cost of intellectual property infringement can now be quite expensive.
He said, “The brazen theft of a person’s intellectual property is also corruption.”
The fight against content theft intensified on Thursday as MultiChoice Nigeria led stakeholders in a Walk Against Piracy from Ikeja City Mall, Lagos, drawing a powerful mix of Nollywood actors, filmmakers, directors, writers, media personalities, regulators, students, and members of the public.
The walk was part of a broader national advocacy campaign aimed at protecting Nigeria’s creative economy from the escalating damage of piracy. Participants marched through the Ikeja axis, distributing flyers, engaging passers-by, and educating the public on the dangers of piracy and its impact on livelihoods.
Veteran actor, Saidi Balogun, one of the leading voices at the walk, described piracy as “a silent killer draining the lifeblood of the creative industry.”
“People see the glamour but forget the sweat, months of work, and the hundreds of jobs behind a single film,” he said. “When you pirate a movie, you are killing someone’s dream, someone’s job, and the future of an entire industry. It must stop.”
Screenwriter and producer, Obi Emelonye, warned that piracy poses an existential threat to the next generation of creatives.
“Piracy is a menace eating deeply into the industry. If we do nothing, young creatives coming behind us will inherit an economy with no structure, no revenue, and no incentive to create,” he stated. “We cannot allow that future.”
The regulatory perspective came from Charles Amudipe, Deputy Director of Operations at the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), who emphasised both the legal and personal risks tied to piracy.
“Piracy is a criminal offence under Nigerian law, punishable by fines and imprisonment,” he said. “Beyond the legal consequences, consumers who download illegal content expose their devices to malware, identity theft, and financial fraud. It is not worth the risk.”
During the outreach, members of the public raised questions about affordability and alternatives to pirated content. The team responded by highlighting accessible, cost-friendly, and legal platforms available to consumers, underscoring that entertainment can be enjoyed responsibly without breaking the law.
Caroline Oghuma, Executive Head, Corporate Affairs at MultiChoice Nigeria, explained that the walk was a continuation of MultiChoice’s long-standing commitments to consumer education. Last month, the company led a school sensitisation programme at Kuramo Senior College in Victoria Island, teaching students how piracy harms creators and how they can unknowingly participate in it.
“We want to catch them young, take this message into communities, and meet Nigerians where they are,” Oghuma said. “Today’s walk is a reminder that protecting intellectual property is everyone’s responsibility. What we are fighting for is the survival of Nigeria’s creative future.”
Other notable participants included members of the Intellectual Property Law Advocacy Network (IPLAN), lawyers, media executives, content creators, and fans of Nigerian entertainment.
MultiChoice Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to working with regulators, industry bodies, and stakeholders to champion policies, education, and enforcement mechanisms that safeguard creative work and ensure creators receive fair reward for their labour.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Association of Nigeria Theatre Arts Practitioners (ANTP) has debunked viral news reports that that the chairman of its board of trustees, Mr Olalere Osunpaimo, well known as Lere Paimo, was dead.
In a public notice from the national Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the organisation, Mr Adejonwo Oluwafemi Femson, it was disclosed that the veteran action is “alive and well.”
Members of the public were advised to disregard the death rumour.
“We would like to inform the public that reports circulating on Facebook about the passing of Chief Olalere OsunPaimo (MFR) are FALSE.
“We have confirmed with Baba Eda Onile Ola’s wife that he is alive and in good health.
“Please disregard these false reports and be aware that they are being spread by unscrupulous individuals.
“Chief Olalere OsunPaimo (MFR), Chairman Board of Trustee Association of Nigeria Theatre Arts Practitioners (ANTP), is alive and well.
“We urge everyone to verify information before sharing to avoid spreading misinformation,” the notice disclosed.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The duo of Nivea and inDrive has been announced as the title sponsors of TikTok’s 2025 Sub-Saharan Africa Awards, while Coca-Cola, Dis-Chem and PEP Stores are the category sponsors.
As title sponsors, inDrive and NIVEA (Beiersdorf) will play key roles in amplifying creator recognition, supporting event experiences, and on-the ground activations.
NIVEA (Beiersdorf) will sponsor the Creator of the Year award, while inDrive will present the Storyteller of the Year award, both reflecting a shared passion for innovation, inclusivity and celebrating African voices making a global impact.
In addition, Coca-Cola is sponsoring Food Creator of the Year award, Dis-Chem is for the Social Impact Creator of the Year award, and PEP Stores is for the Entertainment Creator of the Year award.
This year’s event is slated for Saturday, December 6. It would be used to celebrate the continent’s most inspiring and innovative creators who are using the platform to educate, entertain, and empower their communities.
“We are delighted to partner with TikTok, as we share a long-standing relationship across the globe, including in the Sub-Saharan region. TikTok is a unique platform that enables us to engage with young audiences in a language and format that truly resonates with them.
“We extend our gratitude to the company for organizing The 2025 TikTok Awards Sub-Saharan Africa and congratulate all guests and participants on this remarkable event,” the Marketing Lead of inDrive Africa, Mikita Ponarin, stated.
“TikTok is proud to partner with great local and regional brands that support Africa’s creative economy. What excites us about these partnerships is the shared vision.
“These brands are making a conscious choice to invest in African creativity at a pivotal moment. They see what we see: that when we uplift creators, we strengthen entire communities and economies across the continent,” the Head of Content Operations for Sub-Saharan Africa,” Boniswa Sidwaba, said.
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