By Lukmon Akintola, Lagos
“When you set up an organisation and its running smoothly what else do you do?”
These words of Audu Maikori President of Chocolate City Records sorts of give answer to the posers which many have been asking since information came out that he has decided to step down as boss of the label.
Maikori, who has been in charge of what is regarded as one of the most successful music labels in Africa for 10 years.
Audu Maikori
Maikori announced his plans at the Nigerian Entertainment Conference which held recently saying “at this point I have decided to step down as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Chocolate City to allow for the younger generation to steer the ship. My resignation takes effect from June, but I won’t disclose who will take over from me until then. I have headed Chocolate City for the past 10 years and it’s been the most amazing period of my life despite the many challenges that came with it. There were times, I would get home and wished I wouldn’t have to go to work the next day.
Some other times, artistes will need money and even though unavailable, we still have to find a way. At Chocolate City, we have adopted what I will like to call the “360 deal” approach. This caters for the artiste as a brand in totality and seeks to promote and better his craft, sales, management, endorsement as well as appeal to fans, rather than just sell his albums”
When Daily Independent reached out to Maikori in a phone interview and asked if indeed he was stepping down or if it was all a hoax to promote another agenda he answered thus “ yes I am moving on and as part of my 10 years anniversary I want a new person to run Chocolate City.”
Maikori; was however quick to state that he remains the CEO of the Chocolate Group. On the fact that he was handing over to music artiste and the label’s Vice President Jude Abaga, popular as M.I, Maikori said “I have not said that. What I said is that I am stepping down as President of Chocolate City and the board will decide who continues to run the company.”
On the probability that he was venturing into new grounds Maikori said “if you know me very well you would have realized I don’t talk much about what I am doing until when it materializes. Let’s wait and see what is coming up.”
Maikori however said he will be making sure that the Chocolate Group expands its Pan-African frontiers.
Chocolate City Group Music & Entertainment Company was founded in 2005 by Audu Maikori Paul Okeugo and Yahaya Maikori. However, it is owned by Audu Maikori.
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