Audu Maikori
Encyclopedia
Audu Maikori was born on 13 August 1975 in Kaduna. He is a lawyer and the founder/CEO of Chocolate City Entertainment, which is a record label, artiste management, recording studio and events consultancy company. He is a partner at Law Allianz (a law firm) where he heads the entertainment and intellectual property department and also co-owns Oriental Express, a Chinese restaurant in Abuja with his elder brother Yahaya Maikori.http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/making-chocolate-products/73268/ He has represented various local and international artists, record labels, marketers and distribution companies. He founded the Guild of Artistes and Poets (G.A.P) a not-for-profit arts promotion society that promoted(s) a variety of Nigerian artistes. His hobbies include writing poetry, painting, music, tennis and amateur videography.
In 2003, Audu registered Chocolate City with earnings from his bonus quarterly and enlisted Paul Okeugo and elder brother Yahaya Maikori as directors on the board.
UK, International Association of Entertainment Lawyers, the Nigerian Bar Association
(NBA) and International Bar Association
(IBA), he cut his teeth as an Associate with the litigation-inclined firm of Chief Afe Babalola SAN & Co. and worked thereafter as Legal Advisor to Leasing Company of Nigeria (a subsidiary of Bank of industry), then company secretary of Abuja Markets Management Limited (a subsidiary of Abuja Investment and Property company) before the age of 30.
In 2006, Audu was engaged as a Senior Legal consultant with CPCS Transcom International, a Canadian infrastructure firm, where he worked on the legal and regulatory aspects of key privatisation transactions including the Nigeria Ports Authority, Nigerian Railway Corporation, unbundling and privatisation of PHCN (defunct NEPA). He represented Nigeria in the UNIDROIT Sub-Committee of governmental experts for the preparation of a preliminary draft Protocol to the Convention on International interests in Mobile Equipment on Matters specific to Space Assets in 2005.
In 2010, Audu was also part of a campaign known as "Enough is Enough" where thousands of Nigerian youths took to the streets in a rare display of public anger over issues ranging from infrastructure failings, fuel shortages and power blackouts that reflects badly on the Nigerian Governments efforts to provide the basic amenities for its citizens.http://www.thenetng.com/2011/05/27/we-must-walk-the-walk-not-just-talk-the-talk/ In a largely peaceful four-hour protest, they marched to the National Assembly in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, carrying placards and wearing T-shirts saying "Enough is Enough," and carrying a letter outlining their demands."
Audu became the face of the Enough is Enough campaign when a military police officer warned him to back down or be shot and he refused to backdown and instead dared the officer to shoot. He later led the other youth to march on peacefully to make their protests heard by the National Assembly.
In May 2007, Audu co-organized the first ever Nigerian International Music Summit (NIMS) aimed at establishing a legal/regulatory framework for the Nigerian music industry in March 2007. Over 400 music industry stakeholders drawn from all over Nigeria attended the event.
His belief in the Creative industries of Nigeria and Africa has made him a spokesperson and mentor for many youth in and around Nigeria and beyond.
In September 2010 Audu was made a judge of the first Nigerian Idol alongside Nigerian singer Yinka Davies and American singer/Dancer Jeffrey Daniel
. The show proved to be a success.http://www.ladybrillenigeria.com/2010/09/2010-nigerian-idol-judges-jeffrey-daniel-yinka-davies-audu-maikori.html
Chocolate City has since worked closely with the Federal Government of Nigeria as well as several international organisations such as the British Council in promoting the creative industries as well as Capacity building projects in and around Nigeria. In April 2008, Chocolate City announced a major collaborative effort in partnership with the British Council and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to take a delegation of Nigerian music stakeholders to London Calling 2008 in a bid to open new vistas for the fast growing Nigerian music industry currently valued at around $500 Million (2007). The 40 man delegation was led by the Minister of Culture and Tourism.
Chocolate City has also been active in the promotion of the creative industries globally, having participated in several workshops and initiatives. In January 2008, Chocolate City delivered a keynote address on a workshop tagged "Mapping the Creative Industries in Albania" organised by the British Council, Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Ministry of Economy, Albania. The workshop was aimed at sharing experiences of creative entrepreneurs from around Europe, the UK and Nigeria.
Chocolate City activities were judged to have the capacity to affect the Nigerian Music Industry on a national scale, receiving media coverage from both local and international media. Reuters International produced a documentary on the Chocolate City success story tagged "Music and Money" in recognition of its contributions to the development of the Nigerian Music Industry http://www.nigeriamusicmovement.com/index.php/chocolate-city-record-label-profile.
Over the years Chocolate City has streamlined creative partnerships with many international and regional creative industry organizations, with affiliates in South Africa, U.K and the USA, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the British Council toward promoting and celebrating creativity in Nigeria which we are very passionate about.
Chocolate City has also been at the very fore front of innovation in the support of our vibrant creative industries, because therein lies the future of our youth.
At the Inaugural edition of the United Kingdom Young Music Entrepreneur (UKYME)2008, Audu was nominated to serve as a judge alongside 4 other British Music Industry judges making him the first black judge for a major British Music industry competition.
On 19 March 2011, he was recognized by City Peoples Magazine for his outstanding contribution to the Nigerian Music industry.
AWARDS
International Young Music Entrepreneur of the Year 2007( Nigeria)
International Young Music Entrepreneur of the Year 2007( Global Winner)
Entertainment Executive of the year 2011 by the Nigerian Entertainment Award( NEA)
Winner Award for outstanding award in Music and Entertainment by the National Youth Merit Awards 2011
, Young Entrepreneur of the Year (2011)- Diaspora Professionals Award 2011
Mentor of the Year -2010- Enterprise Foundation),
History
Audu was born to a Christian family in Kaduna, Nigeria and was raised in Lagos, by his parents Adamu Maikori a renowned lawyer and politician and his mother Princess Laiatu who was from the Kwoi royal family. The third of five children, Audu attended ADRAO International School and the prestigious Kings College,Lagos before obtaining his Law degree from the University of Jos, Plateau State. He later moved to Abuja for law school and youth service. "There was nothing happening in Abuja then, just politics and boring bureaucracy." In 2001 Audu (along with Chocolate City partner Paul Okeugo) formed the Guild of Artistes and Poets - a not for profit arts society aimed at encouraging creativity at first in Abuja. The first GAP meeting had only 7 attendees but within two months, the numbers increased had increased to about 45 members. GAP grew from strength to strength and held art exhibitions along with collaborations with the French Cultural Centre. It was through GAP that he met with a range of artistes and started out rendering free legal services to aspiring artists.In 2003, Audu registered Chocolate City with earnings from his bonus quarterly and enlisted Paul Okeugo and elder brother Yahaya Maikori as directors on the board.
Career
A member of the Chartered Institute of ArbitratorsChartered Institute of Arbitrators
The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators is a London based membership organisation for arbitrators for the promotion and facilitation of dispute resolution...
UK, International Association of Entertainment Lawyers, the Nigerian Bar Association
Nigerian Bar Association
The Nigerian Bar Association is the umbrella body of all lawyers admitted to practice law in Nigeria.Any lawyer who satisfies the members of the Body of Benchers that they have good character and proficiency in the Bar Final Examination from the Nigerian Law School is automatically admitted.The...
(NBA) and International Bar Association
International Bar Association
The International Bar Association is an international association of lawyers and lawyers' associations. The IBA's stated purpose is to promote an exchange of information between legal associations worldwide, support the independence of the judiciary and the right of lawyers to practice their...
(IBA), he cut his teeth as an Associate with the litigation-inclined firm of Chief Afe Babalola SAN & Co. and worked thereafter as Legal Advisor to Leasing Company of Nigeria (a subsidiary of Bank of industry), then company secretary of Abuja Markets Management Limited (a subsidiary of Abuja Investment and Property company) before the age of 30.
In 2006, Audu was engaged as a Senior Legal consultant with CPCS Transcom International, a Canadian infrastructure firm, where he worked on the legal and regulatory aspects of key privatisation transactions including the Nigeria Ports Authority, Nigerian Railway Corporation, unbundling and privatisation of PHCN (defunct NEPA). He represented Nigeria in the UNIDROIT Sub-Committee of governmental experts for the preparation of a preliminary draft Protocol to the Convention on International interests in Mobile Equipment on Matters specific to Space Assets in 2005.
IYMEY
On 29 June 2007, Audu made history by winning the highly coveted British Music Award i.e. International Young Music Entrepreneur of the Year (IYMEY) 2007 for his work in Chocolate City after beating off fierce international competition from Egypt, India, Indonesia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Philippines, Poland and Tanzania http://onemag.blogspot.com/2008_05_01_archive.html. He also won a cash prize of 7,500 English pounds. The award was presented to him at a special ceremony at the London Calling Annual event held at Earl’s Court, London. Speaking on behalf of the judges at the Awards ceremony at London Calling, Janine Irons said: "In an excellent presentation, Audu showed a remarkable combination of market knowledge, clear thinking and a calm approach to business. He has an array of successful artists on his books with real global potential, and as a lawyer is keen to continue working to establish a regulatory framework for the Nigerian music industry. He has already demonstrated his ability to affect significant changes on a national level – which the judges feel will only increase."Activism
Audu has received both local and international commendations for his work in developing the youth including being invited to Albania in 2008 to deliver a keynote speech at a seminar organized by the Albania Ministry of Youth and Employment, Minister of culture and British Council.In 2010, Audu was also part of a campaign known as "Enough is Enough" where thousands of Nigerian youths took to the streets in a rare display of public anger over issues ranging from infrastructure failings, fuel shortages and power blackouts that reflects badly on the Nigerian Governments efforts to provide the basic amenities for its citizens.http://www.thenetng.com/2011/05/27/we-must-walk-the-walk-not-just-talk-the-talk/ In a largely peaceful four-hour protest, they marched to the National Assembly in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, carrying placards and wearing T-shirts saying "Enough is Enough," and carrying a letter outlining their demands."
Audu became the face of the Enough is Enough campaign when a military police officer warned him to back down or be shot and he refused to backdown and instead dared the officer to shoot. He later led the other youth to march on peacefully to make their protests heard by the National Assembly.
In May 2007, Audu co-organized the first ever Nigerian International Music Summit (NIMS) aimed at establishing a legal/regulatory framework for the Nigerian music industry in March 2007. Over 400 music industry stakeholders drawn from all over Nigeria attended the event.
His belief in the Creative industries of Nigeria and Africa has made him a spokesperson and mentor for many youth in and around Nigeria and beyond.
In September 2010 Audu was made a judge of the first Nigerian Idol alongside Nigerian singer Yinka Davies and American singer/Dancer Jeffrey Daniel
Jeffrey Daniel
Jeffrey Daniel is an American dancer, singer-songwriter and choreographer, most notable for being a member of the R&B vocal group Shalamar. In Nigeria he is best known as an Idol series judge...
. The show proved to be a success.http://www.ladybrillenigeria.com/2010/09/2010-nigerian-idol-judges-jeffrey-daniel-yinka-davies-audu-maikori.html
Chocolate City
Chocolate City Entertainment Company is an international award-winning 360 degree entertainment company that administers a record label, events planning/management and media consultancy company based in Nigeria with offices in Abuja and Lagos. It is home to award-winning artists like M.I, Jesse Jagz, Ice Prince and has worked closely with the likes of Djinee, Asa, Jeremiah Gyang. Chocolate City has recorded a series of first in its thirteen years of experience, innovation and operations including being the first Nigerian music company to attain a global music award and recognition for its innovation and operations by the British Council in 2007 i.e. The International Young Music Entrepreneur of the Year (IYMEY) 2007 http://www.nigeriamusicmovement.com/index.php/chocolate-city-record-label-profile.Chocolate City has since worked closely with the Federal Government of Nigeria as well as several international organisations such as the British Council in promoting the creative industries as well as Capacity building projects in and around Nigeria. In April 2008, Chocolate City announced a major collaborative effort in partnership with the British Council and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to take a delegation of Nigerian music stakeholders to London Calling 2008 in a bid to open new vistas for the fast growing Nigerian music industry currently valued at around $500 Million (2007). The 40 man delegation was led by the Minister of Culture and Tourism.
Chocolate City has also been active in the promotion of the creative industries globally, having participated in several workshops and initiatives. In January 2008, Chocolate City delivered a keynote address on a workshop tagged "Mapping the Creative Industries in Albania" organised by the British Council, Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Ministry of Economy, Albania. The workshop was aimed at sharing experiences of creative entrepreneurs from around Europe, the UK and Nigeria.
Chocolate City activities were judged to have the capacity to affect the Nigerian Music Industry on a national scale, receiving media coverage from both local and international media. Reuters International produced a documentary on the Chocolate City success story tagged "Music and Money" in recognition of its contributions to the development of the Nigerian Music Industry http://www.nigeriamusicmovement.com/index.php/chocolate-city-record-label-profile.
Over the years Chocolate City has streamlined creative partnerships with many international and regional creative industry organizations, with affiliates in South Africa, U.K and the USA, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the British Council toward promoting and celebrating creativity in Nigeria which we are very passionate about.
Chocolate City has also been at the very fore front of innovation in the support of our vibrant creative industries, because therein lies the future of our youth.
Awards and Accolades
Audu received a special judges commendation at the finale of the International Young Music Entrepreneur of the Year (IYMEY) 2007,where he beat 9 other countries to win the global award in June 2007."In an excellent presentation, Audu showed a remarkable combination of market knowledge, clear thinking and a calm approach to business. He has an array of successful artists on his books with real global potential, and as a lawyer is keen to continue working to establish a regulatory framework for the Nigerian music industry. He has already demonstrated his ability to affect significant changes on a national level – which the judges feel will only increase."At the Inaugural edition of the United Kingdom Young Music Entrepreneur (UKYME)2008, Audu was nominated to serve as a judge alongside 4 other British Music Industry judges making him the first black judge for a major British Music industry competition.
On 19 March 2011, he was recognized by City Peoples Magazine for his outstanding contribution to the Nigerian Music industry.
AWARDS
International Young Music Entrepreneur of the Year 2007( Nigeria)
International Young Music Entrepreneur of the Year 2007( Global Winner)
Entertainment Executive of the year 2011 by the Nigerian Entertainment Award( NEA)
Winner Award for outstanding award in Music and Entertainment by the National Youth Merit Awards 2011
, Young Entrepreneur of the Year (2011)- Diaspora Professionals Award 2011
Mentor of the Year -2010- Enterprise Foundation),
Further reading
External links
- Chocolate City Entertainment Company
- http://www.reuters.com/news/video/videoStory?storyID=WAO1193020696008
- http://todaysdrum.com/?Event=GoToLink&LinkId=14C55CC0-15C5-EA6D-34D9C6442B3E33D5