It is no longer news that The COSON Week which takes place every two years held from October 29 to November 5, 2017 and during the week, there were 8 captivating events, at 7 special venues, over 8 days, all over the city of Lagos which was being promoted as the entertainment capital of the continent and a major tourism hub.
As the COSON Week exploded, there was music all over the city: in the church, in the mosque, on the streets and in the most enchanting venues available to Lagos and as usual, City People’s DANIJI EMMANUEL brings you brief reports from the weeklong event.
DAY 1: COSON IN THE CHURCH
The first day of the COSON WEEK started off with a Sunday Service tagged “COSON IN THE CHURCH”. The opening event held at Pastor Ituah Ighodalo’s Trinity Housein Victoria Island Lagos and it was well attended by prominent Nigerians as well as a lot of gospel artistes and ministers. The Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode was duly represented while The Minister of Transportation and Former Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi was present in person. Lepacious Bose did justice to the event as she anchored the event perfectly. There was a lot of ministration by various gospel artistes including Kenny Saint Best and her longtime friend, Essence. Evang. Funmi Aragbaye and Halleluyah Challenge Convener, Nathaniel Bassey also thrilled guests on stage. The high point of the event was when now U.K Based Pastor and Music Act, Dizzy K. Falola, who flew into the country for the event took to the stage to thrill the church with a gospel rendition of his 80’s Hit Song, “Baby Kilode” which brought down the roof of the church as the congregation were extremely excited.
DAY 2: THE COSON LECTURE
Week long events in Nigeria are usually not complete without a Debate, Symposium or Lecture to depict the seriousness of the event, and it was so for the COSON WEEK as well. The second day of the event was a Lecture which held at Four Points by Sheraton located in Victoria Island, Lagos where some of Nigeria’s best brains gathered for an Intellectual Property feast with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama. Some of the speakers at the event were Mr. Basil Udotai who is an intellectual property expert and a Lawyer; Emeritus Professor, Egerton E. Uvieghara, the first ever Chairman of the Governing Board of the Nigerian Copyright Commission and teacher of many lawyers across Nigeria;
Among those present were the Lagos State Commissioner for Information & Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde; immediate past president of the Intellectual Property Law Association of Nigeria, Prof. Bankole Sodipo; immediate past Director-General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission, Prof. Adebambo Adewopo SAN; Dean Faculty of Law, University of Lagos; Ms. Iyabode Oshodi, representing the Attorney-General of Lagos State; human rights activist and Commissioner in NDDC, Mr. Ogaga Ifowodo; eminent IP lawyer, Mr. Rockson Igelige, and so on. The event was strictly by Invitation.
DAY 3: COSON IN THE STREET
On Tuesday, October 31, major streets in the Mainland of Lagos witnessed an unforgettable spectacle as a rainbow of Nigeria’s best-known music stars swept the streets of the city, cleaned drainages, drove garbage trucks, controlled traffic and did various other under-esteemed work as they gave meaning to the dignity of labour. The ‘COSON in the Streets’ train started by 11.00 am with lots of music from the National Theatre, Iganmu through Surulere, Yaba into Ikeja where there was a major music throw-down at the Ndubuisi Kanu Park, Alausa, opposite the Lagos State House of Assembly.
DAY 4: THE COSON GREEN BALL
On Wednesday, November 1, the nation’s crème de la crème, dressed to kill with a touch of green, walked the green carpet and enjoyed the finest entertainment and the choicest cuisine money can buy at the ‘COSON Green Ball’ which began at the MUSON Centre, Lagos at 6.30 pm. At the COSON Green Ball which was strictly by invitation, the special guests seeked to deliver support to the COSON Music Foundation set up to provide succour to old or indigent musicians and musicians in distress.
DAY 5: THE COSON TABLE TENNIS BLOW OUT
The ‘COSON All Stars Table Tennis Blow Out’ took centre stage at the Rowe Park Sports Centre, Yaba on Thursday, November 2 as celebrities battled on the table to dethrone star singer, Timi Dakolo, the reigning champion of the COSON All Stars Table Tennis Blow-Out. The big battle began at 11.00 am and was open, free of charge, to the general public.
DAY 6: COSON AT THE MOSQUE
The Surulere Central Mosque in Shitta which held on Friday, November 3, hosted Nigeria’s stars of music at ‘COSON at the Mosque’, a day of supplication to the Almighty Allah. COSON at the Mosque is also open to the public.
DAY 7: CHILDREN’S DAY AT COSON HOUSE
The bonus event of the 2017 COSON Week, ‘Children’s Day at COSON House’ took place on Saturday, November 4 as selected Nigerian children between the ages of ten and fifteen visited COSON House in Ikeja and were hosted at the COSON Arena where they were introduced to the world of intellectual property, met some ‘A’ list music stars and had a lot of fun. ‘
DAY 8: THE COSON SONG AWARDS
The COSON Week climaxed with the show of all shows, ‘the COSON Song Awards’ on Sunday, November 5 with the nation’s glitterati and paparazzi on parade at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island. The Awards ‘Red Carpet Fantastico’ began at 5.00 pm. The COSON Song Awards was strictly by invitation. The only way to describe it is wow! As veteran acts Dele Ojo and Shina Peters were honoured and recognized for their contribution towards the growth of Music in Lagos and Nigeria respectively. NIGERIA’s King of Highlife music, Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe who died on May 11, 2017 and the musical genius that thrilled the nation with his one sting instrument, Dan Maraya Jos, were also honoured with a Post Humorous Award.
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