Audu Maikori (born 13 August 1975 in Kaduna) is a Nigerian lawyer, entrepreneur, social activist, public speaker and creative industry expert. He is the co-founder and Executive Vice Chairman of the Chocolate City Group the mother company of leading African record label Chocolate City Entertainment. He is well known as the Founder of Chocolate City, an Entertainment lawyer and regarded as the "Simon Cowell" in Nigerian Idol's first season. He won multiple awards during his career, including the International Young Music Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2007.

International Young Music Entrepreneur of the Year 2007 (Nigeria)

International Young Music Entrepreneur of the Year 2007 (Global Winner)

Entertainment Executive of the year 2011 by the Nigerian Entertainment Award (NEA)

Award for outstanding award in Music and Entertainment by the National Youth Merit Awards 2011

Young Entrepreneur of the Year (2011) – Diaspora Professionals Award 2011

Mentor of the Year – 2010 (Enterprise Foundation)

Creative Entrepreneur of the Year for Music – 2011- CIAN

Winner – African Awards for Entrepreneurship 2011 by Legatum & Omidhyar Network

Entertainment Executive of the Year – 2012 (Nigerian Reunion Corporation)

SME Leader Award - 2014 by Fidelity Bank

National Youth Merit Award in Entertainment – NYMA 2012

Award for Excellence – Nigerian Law School Class of 2013

Award for Leadership in Governance – Junior Chambers International (JCI) -2013

Enterprise Award for Entertainment - Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) 2015

City People Magazine Special Recognition for outstanding contribution to the Nigerian music industry (2011, 2015 and 2016)

In 2008, at the inaugural edition of the United Kingdom Young Music Entrepreneur, Maikori was nominated to serve as a judge alongside four other British music industry judges, making him the African judge in the history of the competition.

On 29 June 2007, he won the International Young Music Entrepreneur of the Year (IYMEY) for his work with Chocolate City beating off international competition from Egypt, India, Indonesia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Philippines, Poland and Tanzania.

He received a special judge's commendation as well as $15,000 Dollars in prize money.

In December 2011, Chocolate City Group, under Audu's leadership, was named winner at the prestigious Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship in Nairobi, Kenya. Chocolate City was selected from over 3,300 applicants from 48 African countries to win the prize of $50,000.

In November 2014, he was inducted as a Fellow of the Nigerian Leadership Institute (NLI) in November at the NLI-Yale Leadership Conference which was held at the campus in New Haven.

He is a man of many parts, an Entertainment guru, Creative industry expert, and Social activist, He believes that Christianity shouldn't be seen as a religion, rather it is a way of life.  

 

COUNTDOWN: We would like to start by asking about your early life, place of birth, educational background and life convictions.

AUDU: My name is Audu Maikori. I was born in Kaduna Nigeria, to a father who was a lawyer and a mother who studied home economics but was a housewife and an entrepreneur. We grew up in Kaduna. At six, we moved to Lagos when my father left the High Court to work as a Company Secretary/Legal Adviser at a bank, Nigerian Merchant Bank at that time. I went to ADRAO International School, in Lagos, Victoria Island, then moved to King's College, Lagos. Before that, I was actually attending Federal Government College, Kaduna. I was there for a year and transferred to King's College, Lagos, for two reasons, one, I was a bit too young when I moved to the school, so I was actually a class ahead of my mates. But secondly, I couldn't transfer from Kaduna to Lagos without repeating the year at that time.

My life convictions are really, that we're all here for a purpose. And that purpose primarily is to leave the world a little better than we found it. So whatever opportunity you have, by virtue of the upbringing you have, your talent or your skills or your profession, you're here to leave the world a little better. And if you can do that, then the world will be better for our children and children's children.

COUNTDOWN: How and what motivated you into the entertainment industry?

AUDU: For me, entertainment came naturally because I grew up in a house where music was second nature to my father and my mother. My father was in the choir; my mother was in the choir. In fact, my father was a choirmaster. So we grew up in a house where we would read Bible verses, and we would always sing hymnals, both in the morning and at night, at morning and evening devotions. So this is sort of how music became part of my life. And I just saw that though I was passionate about the music industry, I saw in Nigeria, there are many talented people that didn't have the management that could take them to the next level.  And I felt that if there was something my partners and I could do to provide a solution to the problem. So we started off with the Guilds of Artistes and Poets (GAP), where we learned and we met so many talented artists. And that eventually led us to set up a company that would help to manage and promote talented people from across all walks of the creative industry in Nigeria.

COUNTDOWN: How will you describe the performances and opportunities for the Nigerian youth, especially the upcoming artistes from all genres of music in Nigeria today?

AUDU: I will say that the Nigerian music industry has grown from strength to strength. And not just in music now, it has also grown in the film industry. But I think that in terms of the genre, what happens with most music, especially when it becomes popular music, which is where the word 'pop' comes from. You now begin to get confined into a sort of stereotype, a sort of, you are classified in a way and so today, the most popular rhythm we hear is Afrobeat. Remember 20/30 years ago, it was Highlife, and there was Hiplife. At some point in time, there's Congo music, there are all sorts of genres. I would say that what is termed Afrobeat today is, as usual, it's the various music themes on genres influenced and mixed and sort of enhanced in the typical Nigerian fashion where we mix our lingo, our culture, our swag, our creativity to create something new. So there is no genre that is not mixed up in Afrobeat. But primarily what we have that is underlying or underpinning Afrobeat is that unique 'Nigerianess' in it and it can be the mix of pidgin English or our dialects into it.

COUNTDOWN: Music as a tool towards nation building: Do you think that the current crop of musicians in Nigeria today are in any way impacting positively on the quest for national development, especially their lyrics and lifestyles? Any examples?

AUDU: Nigerian music and musicians have actually been the biggest Rebranding Ambassadors for Nigeria. I think that we just really feel that because of the following, they command, that they need to sing certain lyrics and that is totally unfounded. You see, in their being themselves is where their originality lies. So when they start being too political or too academic with their music, it loses its shine, its excitement. But there's no doubt that the music industry has enhanced and has not only created jobs for thousands and thousands of Nigerians but has also changed the perception and how Nigerians are received around the world. I was at a conference last year in Qatar; it's called the Doha Forum. And there was a panel about African investments and finance. And one of the leading venture capitalists said that they have been able to link the increase in investments in Africa and Nigeria in particular with the popularity of Afrobeats music globally. And when you think about it, it makes sense. I mean, think about America, America, is known because of the entertainment culture, film industry, fashion and music. Indeed its culture is a key driver of tourism. Americans sold their culture to the world through entertainment and that is exactly what our culture is doing for us – its bringing global interest to Africa’s biggest market.

COUNTDOWN: White collar jobs and entrepreneurial potentials in Nigeria: What is your take on the ever-increasing level of unemployment vis-a-vis the massively untapped entrepreneurial opportunities in the land?

I mean, just to my previous point, this is where the creative industries come in. Because prior to this when you speak about employment- The government's automatic response is Agriculture. While it is true that agriculture employs a lot of people, it does not engage young people in the same way the creative industries does. Young people are not naturally drawn to agriculture, it is not the most, for lack of a better word 'Cool profession', it is hard work, its real grinding. And for those who are not located in those places where there is arable and accessible farmlands, it becomes even more difficult to engage in farming. The creative sector on the other hand creates both virtual and physical jobs. You can sit down in your house using a telephone or laptop to create world-class content and be paid in foreign currency. You can release a song from the comfort of your house in Ilupeju and someone in India is playing it the very next hour. And that is why we're excited about the renewed interest by governments around Africa actually investing in the sector because it is the future of our young people. The Entertainment sector is no longer for amusement, it's an industry, it creates jobs. Just being in this industry for over 18 years, we know that we have directly created at least 1,500 direct and indirect jobs in the economy of Nigeria. So I think that what we need is more investments, more structure and more policies that help to groom and grow the industry significantly.

COUNTDOWN: Youth Participation in Leadership and Politics: How will you describe the level of young people in the quest for leadership positions in Nigeria, citing examples from the just concluded 2023 general elections?

AUDU: I think that we have a long way to go. I think that as long as politics is a game of numbers, and one of those numbers has to do with money, it's always going to be hard; it's going to be difficult for people who don't have a level of financial independence to get involved. But having said that, we know that young people do have a crucial and critical role to play, the problem that they are plagued with so much is poverty, that they will accept any amount of money so that they can take care of themselves. And this goes to a bigger problem around the leadership that we have, a leadership that is focused on the self and not on the people. It's a leadership that is focused on politics and not on the actual governance that empowers and develops people. If young people don't get involved, then the country will continue to deteriorate. On the other hand, when they do get involved, they are bullied, and they are also bought off so that they cannot exercise their mandate objectively- and if you are faced with the level of poverty and unemployment people are facing, you will just take anything you can get because tomorrow isn’t assured. So we have two extremes- it is either you do it or you don't. I think it's more crucial for us to participate. And you see the last election has actually shown a seismic shift because there was now a third party that came in and actually made a significant impact both regionally and nationally. So it's a good initial attempt. It will take some more effort to change the politics of Nigeria. The key lesson is that young people have seen that the power actually does lie in their hands and they would have to sacrifice the enticements of now for a more solid future that is based on politics that power empowers the majority of people, and not just a few people.

COUNTDOWN: What in your view are the impediments clogging the wheels of success for young aspirants in Nigeria?

AUDU: It is about political education and funding. You cannot play politics in Nigeria today without money. That's the truth. I mean, even the most 'Angelic' or should I say, the most 'Holy', Political parties, or candidates have to service the system. Campaigns are not just about talk on social media. It means travels, it means expenses, it means taking care of people's accommodation, it means monitoring, paying agents to monitor results, it means campaigns, billboards, advertising, it means fundraising. There are so many components of it. So you cannot run away from the fact that money is a key part. There are ways to ameliorate this though such as lowering the fees for application form for aspirants could help, we feel that a system whereby people can raise money directly from the crowd, and not just in covert and unclear circumstances can help. Crowdfunding definitely is a huge opportunity because you can help people to put money together and support a cause, or a person they believe in. So yeah, and I think those things being solved can definitely help to move things and allow younger people to not just aspire but also win elective positions, of course, these are underpinned by the need for better education. And this is one of the things that the school of governance that was started by Obi Ezekwesili, a school of Governance and politics does- educate people about political participation and its processes by giving them the skills and tools to help them.

COUNTDOWN: Christians/Church influence in the political landscape: From the point of view of the book of Matthew 5:13, will you say the church has fulfilled its mandate?

AUDU: Matthew 5:13 says that you're the salt of the earth and you know, what is the use of the salt if it has lost its flavor? I think that we must, first of all, look at ourselves as human beings before we think of ourselves as Christians.

Every human being has needs – such as earning money, providing for their family and etc. And whether you're Christian or not, these things are fundamental. So if you ignore the process by which the people that are elected to make these decisions that affect your daily life, then you will have to live with those consequences. And that is why it's important that people get involved in the process. Now, it doesn't mean that you have to run for office, but you can support someone. It doesn't mean you have to actually get involved in campaigning, but at least you can speak out where you have the opportunity to, you can support a candidate that's doing exactly what you stand for. So the short answer to this is that our saltiness as Christians is only as effective as to how we affect our neighbors. The Man was not made for Christianity, Christianity was made for man. So we cannot claim to be Christians without caring about how our brothers and our sisters live. And these decisions about their livelihood, economic policies, social policies, and political persuasion, all these things that have to do with our daily lives, are made by the politicians that are in power. Therefore, we cannot ignore that, we have to get involved. And we have to vote and support people that we know will give us the best chance to live the best life for ourselves, our families and our neighbors.

COUNTDOWN: Nigeria has been battling the scourge of insurgency and other forms of insecurity especially in the northern part of Nigeria for over a decade now, what do you think is yet to be done by the government in order to bring an end to this menace?

AUDU: Honestly, that’s a difficult question to answer. In Nigeria, I believe the principal cause of the banditry we are suffering is poverty and lack of education/enlightenment especially in Northern Nigeria. Government must focus on creating jobs and getting young people engaged, let them have something that brings money to them and gives them a sense of purpose in life. Because if they don't, then they have no real incentive to live and so anyone or anything that can bring money to them is fair game. Once young people are not engaged in work that is you that is not just profitable, or sustainable, If 419 is the fastest way to make money our people will do it, if its kidnapping they will do it, if its robbery, same thing!  

COUNTDOWN: If you were to be given a listening ear by the incoming administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, what in summary do you think can be done to address the issue of unemployment of millions of youth across the country now opting out of the country in droves (Japa) seeking greener pastures?

AUDU: I would say that there's a lot of work to be done. Any government, especially this government is coming in at a time when there's economic trauma and looming global recessions. And there's also the fact that the population is growing significantly. I think the system needs to be overhauled. But the problem too, is that when you try to do too many things at the same time, you end up not achieving much. So I think the government has to whittle down its focus on two or three key areas. And the first area I would say is electricity. If Nigeria, has electricity, up to 80/90% of the population will be very productive, it will change everything. And I think that just fixing the power situation in Nigeria will significantly shift things for the better. For example, lack of power affects employment, just think about companies that cannot operate beyond a certain time because it's too expensive to fuel their plants. Think about the number of 24-hour businesses that could be open, if people had reliable power supply to power them. And just think about the jobs that have been lost, the man hours that people are losing using candles or the students that can't even study in school because electricity is non-existent. I would say that is number one, focus. Number two, I think it's also about retraining and empowering the courts and the legal system and the police, especially to be able to enforce laws. Nigeria has many adequate laws, the problem is that they're not implemented. And that's because ultimately, if you have enough cash, you can bribe your way through the system. How do we make sure that the law enforcers are so well motivated that it will be a huge risk to take a bribe than it is today? The reality is that the only way a policeman can survive is by taking bribe because their take-home pay barely pays for their daily transport not to talk of other needs. But if the incentives around policemen are so well enhanced that if you call for a bribe, you lose much more than your job, it will affect things like your health insurance, your accommodation, your school fees, or your children, the free school fees that children might enjoy as ministry people or even the perks that you have when you're flying on a plane on public transport, maybe you get a 10% discount, because you're military personnel. If it has the incentives of that worth, you'll see we'll have better law enforcement, so that it is more of it being against the norm to be a corrupt officer. Most will be law-abiding, there will always be bad eggs in every system, but at least we should make sure that it's not 90% of the police force that are bad eggs, it should be down to 10% or 15% at most. I think those two things are the most crucial things.

COUNTDOWN: Gospel music: Many are of the opinion that as an artiste, one cannot be economically successful if they major solely in gospel songs i.e they cannot break even with their contemporaries in the secular music industry because the church is not able or ready to support them like the secular world is supporting their own. Is this true? Why do you think so?

AUDU: Now this is not true. It isn't true. What many Nigerians don't understand is that on YouTube for many, many years, until maybe three or four years ago, the most-watched Nigerian musician on YouTube was Sinach, and that was gospel music. In fact, the gospel music scene in Nigeria is a huge export. We have many ministers of God, or singers that travel around the world to minister and they are accepted as superstars, as rock stars. I think it's about the system, and its hypocrisy, even using a word of the system is that we believe that because they are gospel singers, they shouldn't be paid well. Or we believe that because we're serving God, we should not charge as much money as we should, or as deserved, or we feel like it should be subsidized because it's gospel music. And I don't totally agree with that, I think that we have to create a structure that rewards hard work and talent. It will never be the amount of money that secular musicians get and around the world is the same thing. Because whether we like it or not, religious music is a niche thing too. So that's why we call some music, pop, and call some music, religious or gospel music. But having said that, I think that you can have a great run, if you set up your system properly, for example, getting a good publishing deal that helps to make sure that your music is also promoted, post into TV adverts, into games, and used for all sorts of other commercials, and even movies especially, you know, there's a huge opportunity there. I think too, that the Christian music or gospel music community needs to expand itself, and understand that, that gospel music is not for Christians alone. The whole aim of gospel music is to convert those who are not already converted to Christ. So we must find means to create music that's more enticing, that's, commercial sounding, but the difference is just the lyrics that are totally different, and then many great examples of big gospel songs that was played on secular channels – artists like the gospel group  Mary Mary, the Winnans,  and they were gospel songs that but people just loved it. In spite of the fact that it had heavy lyrics, people love the melody to the production. And I think that is crucial so that we have to smuggle the gospel through great music. We shouldn't just leave with just a message that the music is bland. It's more important for the music to be first class. And then the message to also complements the first-class stature of the song.

COUNTDOWN: Can you share with us some of your exploits in the entertainment industry and aspirations in the years ahead?

AUDU: Honestly, I am not a fan of talking about my exploits and my accomplishment I've been in the business for long enough. And I think that's something that you can actually just Google and see. And also follow me on social media on Twitter and Instagram, you'll see things I've been up to. But I'll say that the thing I'm most proud of, in my career is one changing the perception of the music and entertainment industry, by bringing a level of professionalism and opening it up to a demographic that usually used to laugh that as a sort of amusement. And today, the world is talking about our culture. We're topping global charts. We're in global conversations, we're meeting world leaders, we're breaking new barriers. And this is because we were privileged to have been one of those pioneers that promoted our music, and we put our life savings and everything we had into it. And we're glad to see that result today. The second thing I'll say that I'm most proud of is the ability or the platform that we built through Chocolate City, to take people who had no source of livelihood, who were just talented and had nothing more, they just had dreams. And seeing them on the biggest shows and platforms, empowering their families, seeing them empowering and employing people and starting their own companies and also hiring people. I think that is, for me the greatest accomplishment. I am very proud to be that conduit and my partners and I are privileged to be one of the instruments that God has used to empower His people.

COUNTDOWN: Your business model: As a successful lawyer cum entertainment industry leader in Nigeria, can you share with us some basic principles that made you thick? Lessons for younger ones and oldies alike?

AUDU: I think that number one, is there a problem? Is there a solution to the problem? Do I have the capacity, time and passion and resources to solve that problem? Then, why not? That's how I look at every problem. I'm looking for the problems and saying, Can I fix it? Do I have the time? Do I have the team? If I can't, then why not? Why not do it because again, remember, we're here to leave the world a little better than we found it. So being in a position to help people to solve that problem opens the doors for you to create wealth. In terms of my second principle is just really around people. I believe that people make everything worth it. During COVID, this point became very clear to many people that people actually make the world go round. For the first time both the rich and the poor were not only confined to a place but also secluded from others- during this period many people were depressed, suicidal and the reason was that social interactions were strictly prohibited. This demonstrates the importance of connecting with people. So all these things that we do, all the talent, skills or wealth that God has given us is for the benefit of other people its not just for us to consume or enjoy alone.   Intelligence is not for us. It's actually for other people. So my business principle is that once you serve people's needs, your needs will be taken care of too- that’s the definition of value. I've never seen a person invest and solve people's problems without getting some sort of return on that investment.

COUNTDOWN: Family life, faith life and hobbies?

AUDU: I'm happily married to Zel. She is a Doctor and tech enthusiast. We have a beautiful daughter called Syaro, and I'm a Christian, I believe in Jesus Christ. I believe in God the Father. I believe that Christianity is not a religion, is a way of life. And I believe that God is not looking for perfect people. He looks for people like us who are struggling to refine themselves every day. And that is where his grace abounds. It abounds to people who are struggling, who are making mistakes everyday but trying to improve and I think that's a crucial thing, it's not for holy people, who fast everyday who say every word perfectly who don't sin, those who are already “good”. My hobbies are reading, and watching movies. I like to look at historical data, I like to do research. For me, the most relaxing is spending time with my family. That is it. Thank you for the opportunity. God bless.

By:Audu Maikori, With Countdown Magazine