Audu Maikori

Audu Maikori was born on the 13th of August 1975 in Kaduna ,Nigeria and attended King's College Lagos and thereafter studied law at University of Jos, (Nigeria). A member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators 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 a 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 2001 ,Audu Co founded the Guild of Artistes and Poets(G.A.P), Nigeria (an arts promotion NGO with branches in Abuja, Jos and Lagos) [ [http://www.unesco.org/poetry/appronfondissement.php?nom=1550&langue=english UNESCO: GAP guild of artistes and poets] ] as well as Chocolate City Entertainment Company, a Record label,Artiste management and events company that was highly influential in the successful careers of key award winning artists such as Djinee, Jeremiah Gyang, Asa, Six Foot Plus, Xstranger, M.I, Seun Jesse Jags, Six Foot Plus, Xstranger e.t.c.

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.

On the 29th of 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. 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."

In June 2008 Chocolate City again made history by being the first company to organise a 40 man delegation in partnership with the British Council and the Federal Ministry of Culture and Tourism -and Country pavilion for Nigerian music at the London Calling 2008.

His hobbies include writing poetry, painting, music, tennis and amateur videography.

[http://www.britishcouncil.org/arts-music-iymey-2007.htm British Council: International Young Music Entrepreneur of the Year 2007] ]

[=References=

[http://www.chocolatecitymusic.comwww.lawallianz.comwww.britishcouncil.org/iymey_2007.pdf www.britishcouncil.org/arts-music-iymey-2007reativeconomy.org.uk/InitiativeDetails.asp?HeaderID=44] ]

External links

* [http://www.chocolatecitymusic.net/ Chocolate City Entertainment Company] creativeconomy.org.uk/InitiativeDetails.asp?HeaderID=44www.reuters.com/news/video/videoStory?storyID=WAO1193020696008 todaysdrum.com/?Event=GoToLink&LinkId=14C55CC0-15C5-EA6D-34D9C6442B3E33D5