SATURDAY BREAKFAST with TONY OKOROJI
50 days from today, specifically at 4.00 pm on Sunday, May 25, the beautiful Chapel of Christ the Light in Alausa Ikeja, will be the epicenter of national attention as 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.
On that Sunday, the much talked about COSON Week 2025 will begin with the distinct red-carpet opening ceremonies and cocktails, leading to “COSON in the Church”, the first of the seven back-to-back huge events of the week. At COSON in the Church, Nigerians will be linked by an unprecedented mix of simultaneous broadcast, streaming and videocasting, as various communication technologies are deployed to ensure that in one voice, the diverse people of Nigeria, wherever we may be, 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.
You may ask why the members of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) are going through so much trouble to do this, at this time?
Please do not tell me that because you are not hungry and because you may be encased in comfort, you are unaware of the depression and despondence that have gripped millions of Nigerians who have lost hope.
If you have read Saturday Breakfast which I have written and published every Saturday, in the last fifteen years, you may have noticed that I am a strong critic of bad government and bad leadership wherever it is found.
At this point, however, mere criticism and finger pointing will not solve our problems. In a frightening manner, the depression in the land may be leading to dangerous hate towards our nation, a nation which in reality, has the potentials to take care of all of us if we were to properly manage the gifts that the Almighty has given to us. The hate that many are developing for our country, in words and in deeds, may become self-fulfilling, and if we are not careful, may lead to a slide down and down and down the abys.
It is our strong belief that Nigerian creatives from every tribe, with our millions of fans, have a key role to play in stopping the slide, lifting the hope of our people, stabilizing the nation and healing the wounds that have threatened our unity and development. We believe that we must help to give optimism and courage to our people, at a time of severe national challenges.
Yes, we are determined to show that despite the challenges of Nigeria, we must move ahead and build a nation where every child has the promise of a future. That is why our mantra for COSON Week 2025 is: Nigeria will rise again!
For COSON Week 2025, in line with our mantra, we have designed different events to reach practically every level of the society.
On Monday, May 26, the day after “COSON in the Church” at Chapel of Christ the Light, the “2025 COSON Lecture” will take place at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island and erudite lawyer and top political player, Babatunde Ogala SAN will speak on the critical subject, “The Political & Legal Environment Necessary for the Continued Growth of the Nigerian Creative Industry”, one of the most important aspects of our national endeavor that has shown that it has great potential for real growth. A special panel of knowledgeable legal minds, top policy makers and respected creative industry operatives will thereafter dissect and discuss the paper, to enrich policy making for the creative and related industries in the Nigerian nation.
Come Tuesday, May 27, which will be celebrated as ‘Children’s Day’ across Nigeria, the magnificent COSON House in Ikeja, the Headquarters of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), will play host to a select group of Nigerian children, aged between 10 and 15 years old as “Children’s Day at COSON House” holds.
At COSON House, the children will do a big photo shoot on the red carpet. They will also be treated to live performances at the COSON House Arena. They will then be taken through a lecture tagged “Introduction to Copyright” by a team of copyright experts. They will have lunch and thereafter be made to write a test based on what they had been taught. The best students, as judged by a panel, will get significant cash prizes and gifts.
On May 28, the city of Lagos will for the first time, experience an unprecedented 24 hours non-stop music concert, “The COSON Mega Jamz” at Freedom Park Lagos. For an unbroken period of 24 hours, there will be live music in every form with singing, dancing and skanking, through the day and through the night.
“COSON in the Mosque” will take place, at Lagos Central Mosque, Carter Street, Ebute Metta on May 30 as Nigerians of the Islamic faith join in prayers for the Nigerian nation.
In the evening of May 30, the super-exclusive “COSON Green Ball” will take place and 150 of Nigeria’s most influential persons selected by nominations done on the internet, and their spouses, will be given a treat of a life time, as Nigeria’s crème de la crème walk the green carpet at MUSON Centre, Lagos, get treated to the best cuisine money can buy and enjoy the best entertainment to be found anywhere in the world. The special green passports for the COSON Green Ball are set to be received by the 150 nominated Nigerians in the coming days.
The “COSON Week 2025” events will also be used to raise badly needed funds for the COSON Music Foundation, set up to aid old or sick musicians and musicians in distress.
If you have ever had the responsibility of organizing one major event, you can imagine the creative, physical, mental, organizational and financial demands of staging seven outstanding events at seven different venues in the city of Lagos, in a period of seven days. There is no question that we can do with all the help we can get from everyone and all the prayers and good wishes of all Nigerians.
Please believe me, Nigeria is worth it. Please believe me, Nigeria will rise again!
See you next week.
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