MCSN Elects New Board, Members Urged To Obtain PVCs

The Musical Copyright Society Nigeria Ltd/Gte (MCSN) has elected new members of the General Council (board) to pilot the affairs of the Society for the next three years.

The elections took place at its Annual General Meeting held in Lagos on Wednesday June 29; 2022.

The performance of the Society showed that its income rose by 7258% to close at an unprecedented figure of N1,873,538,531 at the end of 2021.

This shows a departure from the previous year which showed a deficit of N22, 433,891.00.

In accordance with Article 35 (a) (i) of the Society’s Articles of Association, Orits Williki, Dr. Tee Mac Iseli, MFR, Dr. Kenny Ogungbe , Actor Segun Alile, Mrs. Mojisola Fayemi, Mike Pam Mbala and Pastor Kola Olulana were nominated and unanimously elected as Board members (Directors) of the Society.

The nominations of Sunny Neji, Asha Fapohunda, Mathew Ohio and Victor Okhai were also ratified as Directors in accordance with Article 35 (a) (v) of the Society’s Articles of Association to represent groups/association and special interests.

In his address to the meeting, the President of the Society, King Sunny Ade called on the members of the Society to among other issues to take keen interest in the 2023 elections and ensure that they obtain their Permanent Voters’ Cards to vote candidates of their choice.

He thanked the Board of Directors led by its Chairman Orits Williki for the great job done in the Society with harmonious relationship with the Management.

To underscore the progress and achievement of the Society, King Sunny Ade declared that “the Management under the leadership of our Director General and Chief Executive, Mr. Mayo Ayilaran, deserves our collective appreciation for their undiluted focus, determination and resolve to ensure that our Society continues to deliver the dividends of copyright to us all.

“Distribution of royalties have resumed and this has been increasing in volume and all areas of our expectation are being attended to.”

The Chairman of the board, MCSN, Orits Williki who admitted that the Society fell short of the projections for the year 2021, in terms of regular collections, reported that nonetheless, the successes recorded on the legal front more than compensated for the short fall.

He was confident that important developments achieved in the year under review should be of pride to members.

Among some of the important milestones recorded was the resolution of the Society’s struggle against Multichoice Nigeria Limited at the end of which Multichoice paid N2.75 Billion to MCSN to resolve all issues.

He went on to assure the members that the Society is strengthening its operations to extend to other regions and states of the Federation as it continues to appoint consultants and agencies across the country to conduct the business of licensing operations.

Mr. Williki thanked all retiring Directors of the Society, who worked tirelessly for several years to bring MCSN to its current status.

He also acknowledged and sincerely thanked the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), particularly the Director General, Dr. John Asein, for the Commission’s support and encouragement to the Society.

The Chief Executive Officer of MCSN, Mayo Ayilaran highlighted the achievement of the Society in the legal front with the case against Multichoice Nigeria Limited and informed members that other cases with infringers are ongoing before various courts.

He thanked the team of Lawyers to the Society for their efforts.

The CEO informed members that distribution of royalties is ongoing, and reminded members that it (distribution) dates back from 2006 underscoring the fact that in the days of the struggles, members were assured that they would not lose a dime, adding “this is exactly what we are doing and our members are already benefitting from it”

He identified the problem of members changing addresses without informing the Society, thereby making it difficult to contact such members for their bank details.

“We therefore once again request every member to update their records with the Society, particularly their bank details and current addresses.”

He also appealed to members to supply the Society with their email and WhatsApp addresses and telephone numbers for ease of communications.

He also thanked the Board members who stood solidly behind the Management in all its activities, assuring the general membership that the goal of connecting members’ creativity with prosperity is being attained.

The members passed a resolution committing the Board and management of the Society to acquire its own property from where it would be conducting its day to day operation in the course of the year 2022.

The members also approved the Society’s slogan or identification trade mark as “MCSN for Success, progress and connecting creativity with prosperity.”