British Council hosts Creative Industries Conference and Expo in Abuja

The Nigerian creative industry held the 5th edition of the British Council led Creative Industries Conference and Expo at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja. The two day event which is part of the UK/Nigeria 2015 – 16 season activities was designed as a platform for Nigerian and UK public and private sector stakeholders to discuss and explore areas of potential policy and practice level collaborations and exchange.


This year’s edition also featured a trade exhibition where businesses and organisations in the creative industry showcased their products and services. Speaking at the opening of the conference, the Country Director, British Council Nigeria, Connie Price said, "Both the conference and trade exhibition are in line with our objectives for UK/Nigeria 2015 – 16 to create and sustain the enabling environment that will make possible access to art, new digital work, art in public spaces, as well as working with young people."


Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, and the Global Director of Arts, British Council, Graham Sheffield, both delivered keynote addresses on the importance of the creative economy, using Nigeria and the United Kingdom as case studies.


The Lagos State Commissioner for Art, Culture and Tourism, Folorunsho Folarin-Coker delivered a speech titled, 'Building blocks for a successful creative economy.' Mr Folarin-Coker stated that the Nigerian media and entertainment industry is the fastest growing industry in the world. ‎"Nigerians are highly creative.


Creative economies encourage cities to thrive and not just survive, as well as create strategic impact on other industries in the economy through a multiplier effect," he said.


Day 2 of the Conference had panel discussions with thought leaders from various creative fields including; Audu Maikori, Emem Ema, Akin Oyebode, Lola Shoneyin, Yemisi Mokuolu, Tom Porter, Tom Fleming and John Osadolor. They shared insights on various topics including the skills landscape and role of festivals in developing cultural as well as creative industries, and investment and funding models for the creative industries. Also present at the event were the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright; Mo Abudu; award-winning artiste, D'banj; Hilda Dokubo; Francis Duru; Eugenia Abu; Dike Chukwumerije; Nkiru Asika; Audu Maikori; Tee A; Charles Novia, and others.


The event was organized in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture.

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Coson Asks Court To Halt The Broadcast of Music on All 42 FRCN Stations

True to its recent public statement that it has asked its lawyers to go on ‘rampage’ against all royalty defaulters and copyright infringers across the country, Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) has asked the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos to restrain the Federal Government owned Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) from further broadcast of music and sound recordings belonging to its members, affiliates or assignors on any of FRCN’s 42 radio stations across Nigeria until the full payment of all music copyright royalties due to COSON.


In the 33 paragraph statement of claim filed on May 5, 2016, on behalf of COSON by Lagos Intellectual property lawyer, Mr. Justin Ige of Creative Legal, COSON narrated the unending and unsuccessful efforts made by its officers to collect from FRCN music copyright royalties due to its thousands of members and members of the 135 international collective management organizations represented by COSON in Nigeria.


COSON stated in its court processes in Suit No FHC/L/CS/603/2016 that the behaviour of the likes of FRCN has led to massive loss of jobs to the Nigerian nation, significant loss of revenue to the country and heavy capital flight from Nigeria as most of the world’s best known international music companies have divested from Nigeria and the domestic investors are leaving the industry in droves because of the intolerable amount of copyright infringement encouraged by the likes of FRCN.


According to the COSON legal papers, the Federal Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari has identified the entertainment industry as one of the key areas to be promoted by the government to provide good paying jobs for young people in Nigeria, to reduce crime and insurgency and boost the nation’s economy but the activities of the likes of FRCN are set to torpedo the very good intentions of the government.


Also in the court documents, COSON expressed the concern that if the courts do not intervene, individual right owners in musical works and sound recordings may in frustration be forced to take precipitate actions to protect their rights and this may lead to breakdown in law and order.


Among the 42 FRCN radio stations listed in the suit are Kapital FM 92.9 MHz, Abuja; Metro FM 97.7 MHz, Ikoyi; Bond FM 92.9 MHz, Ikeja; Radio One FM 103.5 MHz, Ikoyi; Heartland FM-100.5 MHz, Owerri; Premier FM-93.5 MHz, Ibadan; Positive FM-102.5 MHz, Akure; Gold FM-95.5 MHz, Ilesha; Amuludun FM-96.3 MHz, Ibadan; Paramount FM-94.5 MHz, Abeokuta; Treasure FM 98.5 MHz, Port Harcourt; Progress FM 100.5 MHz, Ado –Ekiti; Supreme FM-96.1 MHz, Kaduna; Pyramid FM-103.5 MHz, Kano; Coal City FM-92.8 MHz, Enugu; Unity FM-101.5 MHz, Abakaliki; Pacesetter FM-103.5 MHz, Umuahia and Purity FM-102.5 MHz, Awka.In a recent statement, COSON announced that it is set for an unprecedented show down in courts across Nigeria with copyright infringers and royalty defaulters.


Confirming what is planned to be the most extensive legal attack against intellectual property abuse in any country, COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji said, “We have no choice. We are fighting this war with every arsenal we can muster. We are deploying every resource at our disposal. We intend to win this war once and for all and change the intellectual property landscape in Nigeria. For all the defaulting broadcasting stations, we have notified the Broadcasting Organizations of Nigeria (BON), the Independent Broadcasting Association of Nigeria (IBAN) and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC). We have also informed the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC).


With respect to the hotels, restaurants, events venues and events organizers, we have met with the leadership of both the Hotel & Personnel Services Employers Association of Nigeria (HOPESEA) & Hotel Owners Forum (HOFA), the two main hotel associations in the country. They are fully briefed. We have left them in no doubt as to what we are about to do. With respect to telephone companies and transport companies, our lawyers are in touch with them. The deployment of music without a licence in a public or commercial setting in Nigeria will not happen anymore. We have asked our lawyers to go on rampage. Our brief to them is clear: there will be no untouchables and no sacred cows” FOR COSON:


CHIBUEZE OKEREKE

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Photos & Video: See what 3 policemen did to a disabled black man in Paris

Three Paris police officers on Monday, May 2, stopped and searched a disabled black man identified as Francois Bayga, who was waiting for his immigration status. One officer pushed him against the wall, while another pulled his prostetic legs off just to see if he wasn't "hiding anything" They left him on the ground, his phone and transport card scattered around and his prostetic legs way beyond his reach.





Watch video below

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I Caught My Wife with A Man she Calls Her Brother Having S*x

The nonsense happening today is enough for men to pray well for God to give them their own wife who will be a "wife in deed" and not a lady who will be flirting with men and sleeping with same men anytime her husband doesn't give her the kind of money she wants. Save yourself from stress.


A good wife will give your peace of mind, create a budget for the family and help you plan the future.


40years old Mr Sunday Oladipupo has asked an Orile Agege Customary Court in Lagos to dissolve his marriage with his estranged wife, Bukola, over alleged adulterous behaviour by his wife.


Speaking on Thursday, Mr Oladipupo said, "I caught my wife red-handed with a man she introduced to me as her brother, they were both n*ked and in the act...


"I want a divorce.She pushed me to beating her as I always feel angry anytime I see her with another man.


Before I kill her and myself, it is better we part ways."


The complainant lives at AIT Road in Alakuko, a suburb of Lago. Mr Oladipupo said his wife did not respect him and left home at will and returned whenever she liked. He said she left his home since September 2015 with his children, aged four and nine years.


"She was pregnant when she left my house but the most painful part was that her man friend called me on phone and told me to ask my wife about the paternity of our two children," he said.


The man said he's tired of the union and he doesn't want to kill anybody, hence the need for divorce.


As usual, the wife, Bukola, denied the husband's allegation but she supported the divorce.


"I am not adulterous and I was not pregnant when I left his house in 2015. I left because he beat me anyhow, I did not have peace of mind with him, I am tired of the marriage, I support the dissolution," she said.


The Court President, Dr Kayode Whenu, warned the couple to maintain the peace and adjourned the matter to May 10, 2016, for possible judgement.

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Davido Blast Osagie Alonge For saying he Bought 1million Views for his New Artiste

Pulse Editor in Chief and music critic, Osagie Alonge, release an episode of his online show Facts Only and in it he threw shots at Davido's latest signee Mayourkun hitting I million Youtube views for his debut video Eleko in just 10 days.


Mayourkun is the Davido's first artiste signed to his label World Music.. Alonge accuses Davido and the label of buying most of those YouTube views saying... "How come you from nowhere you drop your video and you hit a million views, fam it is not possible. Don't call a dog a monkey for us"


@osagz dropped his latest #FactsOnly video which he addressed the newest signee on


@davidoofficial record label #DMW @iammayorkun about his 1 million views in 10 days and more. He was very on point cos even Davido has never solely done 1 million views in 10 days before.


Catch the full video via @pulsenigeria247 YouTube Chanel. Cc @instablog9ja @bizzleo1 @nigeriamusic @djjimmyjatt @officialhiptv A video posted by whyfakeit (@whyfakeit) onMay 4, 2016 at 5:42pm PDT The shot fired was too much for Davido to ignore, he took to his twitter to throw a sub which was no doubt directed to Alonge.....


Make a video talking about niggas half your age!! Who u epp?? Better take time before them match you! Keep my name out your mouth PUNK!!— Davido (@iam_Davido) May 4, 2016

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OMG!!! See This Woman That Set Herself And Her Kids Ablaze

One 37-year-old woman whose name is Caroline Wanjiru died alongside her two children on Tuesday May 3rd after she set their house on fire.


Caroline locked the gate to the house, then took her kids to the bedroom where she poured petrol them and set them on fire. The three of them were burnt beyond recognition.


Her husband, who is a banker, was away at the time the accident occurred.

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EFCC freezes Billionaire Businessman Cletus Ibeto's accounts

Chairman of Ibeto Group, Cletus Ibeto has been invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC over his alleged role in the "fraudulent" arms procurement deals.


Sources disclosed that bank accounts belonging to the business mogul who presides over one of Africa’s largest business enterprises have also been frozen by the EFCC. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had disclosed that about $15 billion - equal to half of Nigeria’s foreign reserve - was looted under the Goodluck Jonathan administration through arms "fraud" procurement deals.

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