PMAN Unveils New Biometric ID Card Scheme

Uzo Chikere

Despite that the Performing Mucians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN) has been reeling under the pain of factionalisation for some time now the body has gone on to make history as it recently unveiled the members’ biometric identity card in Lagos.

Led by its president, Pretty Okafor, the interim executive under a convivial atmosphere, announced the advantages and value of the card to Nigerian musicians.

The colourful event which also marked the first 100 days of Okafor in office took place at Four Points Sheraton Hotels, Victoria Island had many musicians as well as the corporate bodies in attendance.

In his speech, Okafor said: “ The scheme is informed by the need to close the yawning gap between creativity and development in Nigeria-music as a development challenge. Said to be emerging, Nigeria’s music industry now generates billions of naira on an annual basis that ends up predominantly in the coffers of foreign and Nigerian pirates. Other sums of similar size belonging to Nigerian musicians lie trapped in the vaults of several foreign (legitimate) establishments due to gross policy and institutional inadequacies on the side of our nation. There is certainly no pride in knowing that a country as big and as endowed as Nigeria has no standard or world-class record label. It is disheartening  to see talented Nigerian musicians groveling before gangs of heinous and artistically clueless pirates, eating off their palms in absolute desperation and pathetic helplessness like congenital beggars.”

He however warned that pirates would be dealt with if they continued their nefarious activities after the expiration of the time of grace given to them.

Making a formal presentation of the biometric ID card, Okafor spoke on the media distribution framework.

The biometric identity card scheme he revealed is a product of sponsorship of and collaborations with many corporate organisations among which are MTN, Diamond Bank, Heritage bank and UBA. Ohers include Bank of Industry, Microsoft Nigeria, Tuntise ICT, Total Health Trust, Multi-Shield, Royal Exchange Insurance, GS1, Indigo PR, among others.

It was a day of long speeches as Felix Duke and Angel Zig Zag thrilled the gathering with their songs.

The likes of Ras Kimono, Charley Boy, Blackky, Sunny Neji, Zakky Adzay, Olu Maintain, Rasque were among those who graced the occasion.