Okoroji Condoles With Late PMAN Secretary’s Family

Uzo Chikere

The Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) helmsman, Tony Okoroji has described late former secretary general of the Performing Musicians’ Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Okupoimose Emmanuel Okuoimose as a dogged fighter for the rights of musicians across Nigeria. He made the disclosure when he paid a condolence visit to the members of the Okuoimose family in Benin City.

He further described Okuoimose Okuoimose who died in Benin City on January 19 as the crankshaft that powered the establishment of PMAN in every nook and cranny of Nigeria and gave the association great respect within and outside the country

According to the former President of PMAN, the late Okuoimose who served under him while he was President, was a unique kind of person – passionate, intelligent, hardworking, committed and totally dedicated to the progress of the Nigerian music industry. In the words of Okoroji, “Okuoimose E. Okuoimose belonged to that disappearing group of Nigerians who did not care at all about personal wealth or privilege but rather the well-being of the people they serve and the progress of the cause they believe in. Okuoimose who was at home in every local government in Nigeria, was a very proud son of the Benin Kingdom and a committed nationalist”

Chief Okoroji who said emphatically that there will never be another Okuoimose E. Okuoimose, asked musicians, wherever they may be, to head for Benin – City on April 16 to give their fallen hero a burial worthy of such a great man.  

Welcoming the COSON Chairman to Benin-City, Adesuwa Okuoimose, sister to the late PMAN General Secretary, said ‘On behalf of our family, We want to thank Chief Tony Okoroji for the great honour he has done our family to come all the way from Lagos to spend time with us at this difficult period. Many years after he worked with our brother, he has not forgotten the bond that existed.   That goes to confirm that he is not one to abandon you in your time of need. Our brother was neither a governor nor a minister but Chief Okoroji has honoured us like he was a Head of State. We are indeed grateful”   

The tenure of the late Okuoimose as Sectary General of PMAN witnessed the spread of PMAN chapters all over Nigeria, the biggest expansion of the union in its history, the promulgation of the Nigerian Copyright Law, the setting up of the Nigerian Copyright Commission, the emergence of the Nigerian Music Awards as Africa’s No. 1, amidst many other landmark events. It was the golden era of PMAN.

Among those who accompanied Chief Okoroji to the home of the Okuoimoses in Benin-City were Prince Biodun Egwakhide, the COSON Edo/Delta Co-Ordinator; Mr. Justin Ige, the Intellectual Property attorney and popular Edo State broadcaster, Mr. Godwin Egbe.