Category: News

Sunday, May 25 is by the corner and the digital links for the many churches with significant Nigerian congregations around the world and individual Nigerians who have set up their Praise & Worship groups for the big National Day of Prayer, have now been made public.

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Chapel of Christ the Light, Ikeja, the multi-denominational Christian center, on May 25, will be the epicenter of the much talked about national event at which the songs and praise of Nigeria’s topmost gospel singers and ministers of the gospel, will be beamed to millions of citizens, in towns and villages across Nigeria and across the world as Nigerian citizens seek the face of the Almighty, to intervene in the affairs of their nation so that the unbridled corruption that is imposing hunger and immense poverty on Nigerian citizens is banished from the land and the banditry, kidnapping and savage killings of innocent Nigerians which have imposed fear on the country, will become things of the past.

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Chief Tony Okoroji, the celebrated former President of PMAN and present Chairman of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), whose members across Nigeria are driving the historic event, with the active support of several organizations like Gospel Musicians Association of Nigeria (GOMAN), Catholic Charismatic Renewal of Nigeria (CCRN), Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) Creative Industry Group (CIG), etc., has requested that the links be shared widely to every Nigerian Christian, everywhere in the world, so that everyone can fully participate in the historic prayer and worship event.

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To join in the historic National Day of Prayer, from 4.00 pm, on May 25, the links are as follows:

YOUTUBE:​​https://www.youtube.com/@COSON.NG

FACEBOOK:​​https://wwwfacebook.com/coson9ja

INSTAGRAM:​https://www.instagram.com/cosonnigeria

ZOOM:​​Meeting ID: 254 154 1207. Passcode: PRAYERS25

Participants may also join on the platforms of the National Day of Prayer partner organizations, such as:

CCRN: CCRNTV​https://youtube.com/@ccrntv-online​​

GOMAN​​https://youtube.com/@GOMANNATIONAL84

COSON General Manager, Mrs. Bernice Eriemeghe Ashibuogwu has said publicly that those who do not get invitation cards to Chapel of Christ the Light for “COSON in the Church” on May 25, do not have to worry, because Nigerians everywhere in the country and around the world, who organize their own Praise & Worship groups, can link up and fully participate in “COSON in the Church”, the National Day of Prayer, and receive the blessings of the Almighty.

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COSON has already announced that Praise & Worship groups can be set up in churches, schools, playgrounds, hotels, restaurants, eateries, bars, village squares or even private living rooms, to participate in what will be a first of its kind National Day of Prayer, in the history of Nigeria, so that every participant can fully receive the blessings of the Almighty.

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Current reports show that Nigerian citizens everywhere are enthusiastically setting up their Praise & Worship groups for the National Day of Prayer. For instance, Pastor Dizzy K. Falola, the impactful Nigerian singer, who now pastors Power Church Internation in London, has said: “We will surely have our Praise & Worship Group at Power Church on May 25. We will also encourage our pastor friends and other Nigerians around the world, to set up their own Praise & Worship groups and join in a very powerful way, to drag our country away from the grip of the devil and the occult”.

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May 25 will surely be a watershed day in the history of the Nigerian nation.

Chief Tony Okoroji, Chairman, Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), has expressed shock at the sudden death of DJ, Raymond Bola Brown, a key member of the team that has been designing and planning to execute the “COSON Mega Jamz”, the first ever 24 hours non-stop music concert in Nigeria, set to hold at Freedom Park Lagos on May 29..

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Said Chief Okoroji, “I was in Owerri, planning the burial of my elder sister’s husband, Ambrose, when I got this call from my very good friend and colleague, the celebrated drummer, Richard Ayodele Cole. Richard and I, call each other almost every morning to celebrate a new day and pray for each other. I thought it was one of those calls. This time, Richard said ‘I have bad news, very bad news … Bola Brown is dead!’ The cup I had in my hand fell down and shattered. My spirit went on a tail spin.

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“A few days earlier, I had a fantastic meeting at Freedom Park with Bola Brown, Righteous Man, Amos Mcroy, Richard Cole and others. We were dotting the ‘I’s and crossing the ‘t’s to give Lagos an unforgettable show as part of the COSON Week. ‘BB’ was excited and full of great ideas. We were all pumped up. It did not appear that anything was wrong with him.

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“Raymond Bola Brown was a great guy with a smile, warmth and love for all. His death has left me devastated. I have tried very hard to accept the reality and to move on. I have called Theo Lawson, our friend, who runs Freedom Park, to commiserate with him. I know that Theo loved Brown like a brother. On the phone, Theo sounded broken. I extend my sympathy to the family, friends and many fans of DJ Raymond Bola Brown.

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“In distress, I thought about cancelling the COSON Mega Jamz altogether. I have however come to the conclusion that it would be a disservice to the memory of a great guy who was the engine that drove the event. Without ‘BB’, it is now much tougher to do the Mega Jamz, but we will do it and use the event to celebrate this guy who was an encyclopedia of Nigeria’s popular music and the music industry. I want to ask everyone who can make it to come out to Freedom Park on May 29 for the Mega Jamz which will now be a celebration of not just Nigerian music and Nigerian musicians but that of a man who whole heartedly loved Nigerian music and musicians, DJ Raymond Bola Brown”.

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Here is the citation of the enigma, read by well-known thespian, Keppy Ekpenyong, that kept everyone including, professors, lawyers, actors, musicians, administrators and journalists, standing and clapping on and on:

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Ladies and gentlemen, please rise, if you may, as we present a tribute to a true pioneer, a man whose tireless work has lifted the Nigerian creative industry to national and international acclaim — the incomparable Chief Tony Okoroji!

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Tonight, we gather not just to celebrate a man, but a movement — a legacy woven through the heart of Nigeria’s cultural renaissance. A living legend whose creativity, activism, leadership, and fierce advocacy have left an indelible mark on generations of Nigerians and beyond.

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We honour none other than Chief Tony Okoroji.

Born with a passion for excellence, Tony Okoroji’s foray into professional music began as a teenager at College of the Immaculate Conception, Enugu. At only 15 years old, he was already touring with the group, “Life Everlasting”, showing a rare blend of talent and determination. Despite his early success in music, he never compromised his academic excellence, passing his WAEC with distinction.

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By 18, Chief Okoroji had recorded his first album, “Super Sure”, and soon after achieved the remarkable feat of playing all sixteen musical instruments on his second album, “Big-Big Sugar Daddy” — a national record that stands to this day.

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The 1980s saw him soar into national consciousness with timeless crossover hits like “Juliana”, “Oriaku”, “Mama & Papa “Wishing You Well”, and “Locomotion”. Simultaneously, he contributed behind the scenes, nurturing talents as a producer and A&R executive for the international label, EMI.

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In an unprecedented rise, at just 29, Chief Okoroji became the youngest National President of the Performing Musicians’ Association of Nigeria (PMAN), revolutionizing the association and amplifying the voices of Nigerian musicians at home and abroad.

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As a passionate advocate, Chief Okoroji led the charge for reforms in Nigeria’s copyright laws, a campaign that saw him mobilize creative forces across the country, pressure the military government, and contribute to the establishment of the Nigerian Copyright Commission. Today, he stands tall as one of Africa’s most respected voices on Intellectual Property.

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As Chairman of COSON — Nigeria’s foremost copyright collective — he continues to safeguard the rights of thousands of creators. His work with organizations like AVRS, REPRONIG, NORCODE, and WIPO demonstrates his global reach and unwavering commitment to justice for creative professionals.

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Chief Tony Okoroji’s contributions extend into literary excellence with his celebrated book, “Copyright & the New Millionaires”, and his thought-provoking weekly column, “Saturday Breakfast with Tony Okoroji”, published consistently for over 15 years.

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He is the visionary behind the Nigerian Music Awards — Africa’s first internationally acclaimed entertainment award event — a trailblazing initiative that drew the admiration of heads of state, diplomats, and global stars.

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A man of distinction academically as well, he holds a Degree in Business Administration, a Diploma in Business and Industrial Law, and an Advanced Diploma in Commercial Law & Practice — all passed with flying colours.

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Above all, Chief Tony Okoroji is a patriot, a cultural ambassador, and a relentless voice for the voiceless creatives. He is also the proud father of the celebrated actress, author, and media powerhouse, Alex Okoroji.

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Today, The Forum by Ojez celebrates Chief Tony Okoroji — an icon, a pioneer, a champion — whose story reminds us that with vision, passion, and unyielding commitment, one individual can change the course of history.

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Ladies and gentlemen, please join us in honouring Chief Tony Okoroji.

Power Church International, London England, will on Sunday May 25 join the many churches with significant Nigerian congregations around the world, that are setting up Praise & Worship groups to link up and participate in the big National Day of Prayer which will be beamed from Chapel of Christ the Light, Ikeja, the multi-denominational Christian center, which on May 25 will be the epicenter of the much talked about national event at which the songs and praise of Nigeria’s topmost gospel singers and ministers of the gospel, will be beamed to millions of citizens, in towns and villages across Nigeria and across the world from 4.00 pm, that day.

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Speaking on the phone with Chief Tony Okoroji, the celebrated former President of PMAN and present Chairman of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), whose members across Nigeria are driving the historic event, Pastor Dizzy K. Falola, the impactful Nigerian singer, who now pastors Power Church International in London, said: “I am thrilled by the concept of the National Day of Prayer for Nigeria.

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There is no true Nigerian anywhere in the world who is not happy that Nigerians will in one day and in one voice, seek the face of the Almighty, to intervene in the affairs of our dear nation so that the unbridled corruption that is imposing hunger and immense poverty on Nigerian citizens is banished from our land and that the banditry, kidnapping and savage killings of innocent Nigerians which have imposed fear on our country men become things of the past. As a child of God, I verily believe that as we seek the face of the Almighty, Nigeria will rise again.”

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Said Pastor Falola: “We will surely have our Praise & Worship Group at Power Church on May 25. We will also encourage our pastor friends and other Nigerians around the world, to set up their own Praise & Worship groups and join in a very powerful way, to drag our country away from the grip of the devil and the occult”

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COSON has already announced that Praise & Worship groups can be set up in churches, schools, playgrounds, hotels, restaurants, eateries, bars, village squares or even private living rooms, to participate in what will be a first of its kind National Day of Prayer, in the history of Nigeria. COSON has also promised that details of the various Broadcast Channels, YouTube sites, Zoom links, Streaming and Social Media Platforms that will enable any group or individual with a television set, a computer or a smartphone to fully participate in the history-making live transmission, will be made public.

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COSON General Manager, Mrs. Bernice Eriemeghe Ashibuogwu has said publicly that those who do not get invitation cards to Chapel of Christ the Light for “COSON in the Church” on May 25, do not have to worry, because Nigerians everywhere in the country and around the world, who organize their own Praise & Worship groups, can link up and fully participate in “COSON in the Church”, the National Day of Prayer, and receive the blessings of the Almighty.

The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), has joined other national organizations to express full support for the National Day of Prayer set to take place on May 25.

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It has been repeatedly announced that at 4.00pm on Sunday, May 25, Chapel of Christ the Light in Alausa, Ikeja, the multi-denominational Christian center, will be the epicenter of the National Day of Prayer from which the songs and praise of Nigeria’s topmost gospel singers and ministers of the gospel, will be beamed to millions of citizens, in towns and villages across Nigeria and across the world.

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It has also been made public that at the event on May 25, Nigerians will be linked by an unprecedented mix of simultaneous broadcast, streaming and videocasting, deploying various communication technologies, so that in one voice, the diverse people of Nigeria, wherever they are, can join in supplication, to seek the face of the Almighty, to give the Nigerian nation a new lease of life, and restore optimism to Nigeria’s children.

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In a letter signed by AGN National President, Dr. Ejezie Emeka Rollas, and addressed to Chief Tony Okoroji, Chairman, Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) whose members are driving the historic event, AGN expressed the willingness of the guild to “support and participate in the National Day of Prayer to seek the face of the Almighty God in supplication to give our dear country a new lease of life”.
In the letter, the AGN also wrote: “It is with great pleasure that we gladly endorse the project and express our willingness to partner with COSON in all areas of interest. We therefore encourage all well-meaning Nigerians and Corporate Organizations to accord COSON the necessary support that will make the event successful. We also implore our members to identify with the project with full support”

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COSON has asked Nigerians in towns and villages across the country and across the world, to organize their own Praise & Worship groups so that they can link up and fully participate in the National Day of Prayer scheduled to hold on Sunday, May 25.

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According to the COSON Board, the groups can be set up in churches, schools, playgrounds, hotels, restaurants, eateries, bars, village squares or even private living rooms, to engage in what will be the first of its kind National Day of Prayer, in the history of Nigeria. Promising that details of the various Broadcast Channels, YouTube sites, Zoom links, Streaming and Social Media Platforms that will enable any group or individual with a television set, a computer or a smartphone to participate in the history making live transmission, will be made public.

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The National Day of Prayer, also known as “COSON in the Church” is the first of the seven massive back-to back-events of what has been described as “the master-blaster COSON Week 2025”, which will hold Lagos spell-bound from May 25 till May 31. The mantra for the events is: “Nigeria will rise again!”

Nigerians in towns and villages across the country and across the world, have been requested to organize their own Praise & Worship groups so that they can link up and fully participate in the National Day of Prayer scheduled to hold on Sunday, May 25, 2025.

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The request was made by Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Nigeria’s biggest copyright collective management organization made up of thousands of owners of copyright in music spread across Nigeria..

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Rising from its meeting just held at COSON House, Ikeja, the COSON Board asked Nigerians to set up groups, wherever they are, to join in the unprecedented praise and worship event that will be beamed across the country from Lagos, on May 25. According to the COSON Board, the groups can be set up in churches, schools, playgrounds, hotels, restaurants, eateries, bars, village squares or even private living rooms, to engage in what will be the first of its kind National Day of Prayer, in the history of Nigeria. Promising that details of the various Broadcast Channels, YouTube sites, Zoom links, Streaming and Social Media Platforms that will enable any group or individual with a television set, a computer or a smartphone to participate in the history making live transmission, will be made public.

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As has already been made public, at 4.00pm on Sunday, May 25, Chapel of Christ the Light in Alausa, Ikeja, the multi-denominational Christian center will be the epicenter of the National Day of Prayer from which the songs and praise of Nigeria’s topmost gospel singers and ministers of the gospel, will be beamed to millions of citizens, in towns and villages across Nigeria and across the world. Nigerians will be linked by an unprecedented mix of simultaneous broadcast, streaming and videocasting, deploying various communication technologies, so that in one voice, the diverse people of Nigeria, wherever they are, can join in supplication, to seek the face of the Almighty, to give the Nigerian nation a new lease of life, and restore optimism to Nigeria’s children.

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According to COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji, the musicians of Nigeria who are championing the National Day of Prayer are not working alone. In his words: “We have made contact with the critical Christian organizations in the country such as the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Catholic Charismatic Renewal of Nigeria (CCRN), Gospel Musicians Association of Nigeria (GOMAN), etc. We also have the full support of the key creative industry associations such as the Creative Industry Group (CIG) and the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), whose members will fully participate in the National Day of Prayer.

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Speaking further, the celebrated former President of PMAN said: “Any Nigerian who does not know the depth of the challenges facing our country presently, is living in a fool’s paradise. The economic stress which millions of Nigerians are wrestling with, cannot be wished away. Nobody in Nigeria is insulated from the widespread banditry, kidnapping and wanton taking of innocent lives.

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“It is foolhardy to expect that only elected or appointed government officials will solve Nigeria’s problems. We must all roll up our sleeves and come together as a nation to rebuild our country. Every true Christian however knows these words of the Scriptures: ‘Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain’. That is why it has become critical that we come together and seek the face of the Almighty. Believe me, Nigeria will rise again!”

As a major event of the much-publicized COSON Week 2025, sick, infirmed or indigent musicians have been guaranteed access to absolutely free medical examinations, treatment and prescribed drugs on May 29, 2025 as the COSON Arena, at the magnificent COSON House in Ikeja, is temporarily converted to a medical hamlet.

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In cooperation with the top-notch Care Life Medical Centre, Lagos; doctors, nurses, medical lab experts and pharmacists, will on that day, be on hand to examine sick and infirmed musicians, provide advice and medications to them at no cost, as the program called the COSON Medical Outreach is lunched.

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Announcing this important development, COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji, said: “I am very happy that we can make this happen. On behalf of the COSON Board, I wish to thank Dr. Moses Jatto, who heads the ultra-modern Care Life Medical Centre, Lagos, for partnering with COSON to make the dream of the COSON Medical Outreach, a reality.

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“The COSON Medical Outreach is in line with our conviction that an organization such as ours, has no more important purpose than to make life better for the people we represent. This is why during the COVID 19 era, when there were no events, work or income for most musicians, COSON distributed several millions of Naira to assist thousands of musicians across Nigeria.

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“As a result of the sharp downturn in the Nigerian economy, COSON in December 2023, distributed palliative royalties in millions of Naira also to thousands of musicians across the nation. This last December, COSON approved another major distribution of millions of Naira to musicians in every state of the country.

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“This conviction is why you will find that COSON goes to great lengths to provide succor to musicians who are sick, or to ensure that every COSON member who passes on, receives a decent funeral.
“I want to thank my colleagues in the COSON Board and Management for the determination and commitment to continue to provide the kind of leadership that is responsible, forward- looking, responsive, transparent, accountable and a great example of what a creative industry institution should be”.

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Chief Okoroji has pledged that as the nation gets closer to COSON Week 2025, which begins on Sunday, May 25 with “COSON in the Church”, the National Day of Prayer, to be beamed live across Nigeria, from Chapel of Christ the Light in Ikeja, more information will be provided as to how any sick, infirmed or indigent musician can access the free facility of the COSON Medical Outreach.