Entertainment
COSON Calls for End of ‘Divide and Rule’ in Nigerian Music Industry
Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), the nation’s largest copyright collective management organization for musical works and sound recordings, has called for the coming together of the different interest groups within the music industry to properly tackle the problems of the industry, and to end the era of ‘divide and rule’ which it says has been deployed to pauperize the stakeholders in the Nigerian music industry.
In his “No Music Day” address to the nation issued from COSON House in Ikeja, and syndicated on multiple media platforms across the nation and across the world on September 1, 2020, the Chairman, Copyright Society of Nigeria, Chief Tony Okoroji, said, “On this ‘No Music Day’, we must tell the musicians of Nigeria that our problems will not be solved until we stop the bickering and factionalization in our industry which most times are exploited to keep us down. We must work together in the interest of our country and the young people who look towards us for guidance. We must understand that in a democracy, there will be alternative points of view. Each alternative view should not result in the setting up of an alternative faction”
Continued Chief Okoroji, “We should no longer tolerate a situation where there are diverse organizations in the industry that upon close observation provide no answers and do nothing for anyone except those who claim to be their leaders”
In the words of the celebrated former President of PMAN, “All true musicians in Nigeria must be terribly embarrassed by the endless finger pointing and dirty name calling that have become the order of the day in PMAN, the once most admired and important national association whose image has been badly damaged and which has been made the laughing stock of the nation. The time has come for the bickering and quarrelling to stop and for those in the industry who truly have the interest of musicians at heart to come together and work with one another to ensure that the industry speaks with one voice on critical issues. We must take to heart the immortal words of the late Dr Martin Luther King Jnr who said, ‘We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools’”.
Speaking on the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic on the music industry Chief Okoroji held that while the pandemic has hit practically everyone badly, it has been devastating for musicians in Nigeria. According to him, with all event venues shut down, event centres, hotels and nightclubs closed, no birthdays, no weddings, no product launches, no concerts and not even funerals allowed, the income of thousands of musicians in Nigeria has been crushed.
He declared that it was as a result of this devastating situation that during the Coronavirus lock down, the COSON Board took the bull by the horn and earmarked the sum of N72.5 million naira of COSON money for distribution to musicians across Nigeria to cushion the crushing effects of the pandemic. According to him, “the great lesson is that there was no quarrel whatsoever about the distribution of the money because it was done transparently. Of course, we could have done a whole lot more if the many obstacles placed in our way by the Nigerian environment were not there”
Said the COSON Chairman, “the fact that this broadcast is being made from the magnificent COSON House in Ikeja built without one naira of government money, no loan, grant or debt whatsoever places on record what the Nigerian creative community can do if no shackles are placed on us.
“We have read in the newspapers and heard on broadcast media that the government is interested in providing COVID 19 palliatives for the creative industry. We find it odd that as the one Nigerian organization with the greatest number of creative people and undeniable structure, several months into the COVID 19 lockdown, nobody has reached out to us, nobody has asked us any questions and nobody has provided any palliatives”.
TO WATCH THE “NO MUSIC DAY” 2020 OFFICIAL STATEMENT AS READ BY COSON CHAIRMAN, CHIEF TONY OKOROJI ON BEHALF OF THE NIGERIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY KINDLY CLICK ON THIS LINK
Entertainment
Glo Fetes Subscribers with Lavish Discounts, Free Data, Others on Valentine Smartphone Promo
As February unfurls its tender blossoms and love lingers sweetly in the air, Globacom has unveiled a Valentine Smartphone Celebration designed to delight its subscribers with irresistible discounts and generous data rewards.
The seasonal offering, which commenced on 9 February and concludes on 16 February 2026, brings together elegance, innovation and exceptional value in one thoughtfully curated bouquet.
At the heart of the promotion are remarkable price reductions on a selection of premium Samsung devices, including the Samsung Galaxy A56 5G, Samsung Galaxy A36 5G, Samsung Galaxy A26 5G, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Samsung Galaxy A07.
Customers, who purchase any of these devices will receive a complimentary travel charger and protective pouch, alongside up to 18GB of bonus data spread over six months redeemable exclusively on the Glo network.
The celebration extends beyond Samsung. A range of attractively priced Tecno smartphones and selected Infinix models are also available, ensuring that customers may choose devices suited to their tastes, ambitions and budgets. Whether one seeks sleek sophistication, robust performance or cutting-edge features, the promotion offers something for every digital romantic.
Globacom describes the initiative as a reflection of its enduring commitment to customer centricity and digital empowerment. The carefully selected smartphones are renowned for their advanced technology, refined design and dependable functionality qualities that mirror the company’s aspiration to provide not merely connectivity, but meaningful connection.
The telecom giant enthuses, “Valentine’s season is about bringing people closer. There is no finer expression of that closeness than a smartphone that complements your lifestyle and aspirations. This promotion enables our customers to acquire their dream devices at some of the most competitive prices of the year, enhanced by generous data bonuses to keep conversations flowing.”
Indeed, in a season defined by affection and thoughtful gestures, Globacom’s offering stands as a modern love letter to its subscribers—an invitation to speak, share and stream without restraint. Customers are warmly encouraged to visit Gloworld outlets nationwide, to partake in the Valentine Smartphone Celebration, while stocks last.
In the spirit of the season of love, Wema Bank has announced the couple who will be getting a special celebrity artiste performance at their wedding on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2026: The bride, Rita Ndukwe and the groom, Jemil Adama.
Inspired by the “Evolution” theme of its upgraded ALAT App tagged “ALAT: The Evolution”, Wema Bank launched its Valentine campaign on February 1, 2026, with a focus on celebrating the journey of love across four categories: self-love, friendship, romantic relationships and marriage.
“Evolution Of Love, Powered by Wema Bank” called on singles, friends, lovers, and married couples to post a 1-minute video sharing their love journey and how it has evolved over the years. At 3 p.m. on Thursday, February 12, the Bank announced the couple who would be getting the ultimate love experience: a celebrity artiste performance live at their wedding on February 14th.
The internet has been buzzing in excitement and anticipation of the celebrity artiste Wema Bank is bringing to the special Valentine wedding this weekend.
Updates are available on the Bank’s social media platforms @wemabank. Anyone interested in following the conversation and watching the big reveal of the celebrity artiste is encouraged to turn on post notifications and use #ALATEvolutionOfLove to stay up to date.
Mexican voice actor of Spider-Man, Alexis Ortega, has died at 38, according to a report by World Dubbing News.
The platform said: “We regret to announce the sensitive passing of voice actor Alexis Ortega, we send our condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues in this difficult time.”
The cause of death was not disclosed at the time of the announcement.
Alexis Ortega was born in Mexico in 1987 and began his career in 2013 as an onscreen actor and voice performer. He later became widely known for dubbing Tom Holland’s roles in Spanish for several Marvel films, including Spider-Man: Homecoming and Avengers: Infinity War.
He also worked on multiple Disney projects, providing Spanish dubbing for films such as Big Hero 6 and Star Wars: Rogue One.
Following confirmation of Alexis Ortega’s death, fans took to social media to share tributes and memories of his work.
“Sad news. Way too young at 38. Rest in peace, Alexis,” user Ilman posted on X.
“Such sad news Alexis Ortega brought Spider-Man to life for so many fans. Rest in peace,” Rechardo wrote.
“It’s truly a loss when a talented voice brings so much life to a character we love. Alexis Ortega’s legacy will surely live on through his iconic performances,” Victor shared.
“Lives on for the rest of time with these movies for the world to know him,” Bunsan added.
Beyond voice work, Ortega appeared on screen in shows including Luis Miguel: The Series, Thursday’s Widows, El Candidato, and The House of Flowers. He also collaborated with Mr Beast, dubbing Spanish versions of the YouTuber’s videos.
Ortega’s final Instagram post, shared in November last year, showed him sitting on a couch with his dog at his home in Mexico City. He captioned the photo, ‘My doggo.’
