The entire family nationwide of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Nigeria’s biggest copyright collective management organization, is in deep mourning at the passing on of the frontline COSON Board member, Honourable John Ewelukwa Udegbunam.
Hon John E Udegbunam, a key COSON Director passed on in the evening of July 3, 2021 after a brief illness at Holy Rosary Specialist Hospital, Waterside Onitsha. He was 63 years old.
The vastly respected Udegbunam was the immediate past National President of the powerful Music Label Owners & Recording Industries Association of Nigeria (MORAN), Nigeria’s biggest association of owners of copyright in sound recordings. From inception, he had been a member of the Management Board of COSON, Nigeria’s most respected and successful copyright collective management organization, acting as a rock in the COSON foundation.
The no nonsense activist was a trained musicologist, composer, music teacher, producer and label owner and National Music Director of the Praise & Worship Ministry of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal of Nigeria (CCRN). He was CEO of Eweson Communications Ltd.
Due to the high esteem in which he was held in the Catholic Church, when Honourable Udegbunam buried his mother in Oraeri Anambra State about 5 years ago, over 40 Catholic priests stormed Oraeri to perform the Requiem mass.
Honourable Udegbunam was also a staunch member of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and was once a councilor under APGA. He recently took serious part in making sure that Prof Chukwuma Soludo was nominated as the APGA governorship candidate in the coming election.
There has been a flood of reactions to the death of Udegbunam, loved dearly by almost everyone at COSON. Sobbing, a COSON Board Member, Chief Uche Emeka Paul said, “I am devastated. My heart is broken. A great Iroko has fallen. I spoke with him yesterday morning. Oh God! Why this time?”.
The COSON General Manager, Mrs. Bernice Eriemeghe-Ashibuogwu said, “It is sad. I spoke with him just this Monday and we chatted and laughed”. Sir Shina Peters, another member of the COSON Board, said, “Oh my God, not this time, I’m just speechless and sad” Engr. Sharon Esco Wilson, another member of the COSON expressed grief at the loss of the one he described as the “COSON family arrow”.
COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji, said “I am beyond sad. I am devastated. I do not cry over the death of men but here, I am weeping. I used to call him Madu Asa (7 persons in one). If you have Hon. Udegbunam with you, its like having 7 persons behind you. He was unshakable when it comes to standing with the truth, even when everyone else is telling lies. He had great strength of character. The great COSON family will make sure that Honorable John Ewelukwa Udegbunam who was one of us and precious to us, is buried like the great man he was”.
