PMAN, agency clash over creative industry bar coding project

The National Executive Working Committee of the Performing Musicians Employers’ Association of Nigeria (PMAN) has  expressed its dissatisfaction over the Minister of information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed’s decision to stop the implementation of  the association’s creative industry bar coding project because a group of persons recently approached him claiming to be the original PMAN.

In a statement made available to R, it stated that the minister was aware that PMAN was united under a sole registered trademark and that no group of persons could parade itself as PMAN without the permission  of the Pretty Okafor-led executives.

“We are shocked that the ministry could change its decision after it had already announced its partnership with PMAN at a world press briefing held at the  ministry’s office in Abuja on August 12, 2016.”

“The minister stated that an advertising agency, anonymously brought a similar proposal to the Ministry of Information. However, PMAN’s legal team is currently investigating how a certain  Think Tank Media got hold of PMAN’s Creative Industry Bar-coding project proposal submitted in confidence to the ministry,” PMAN claimed.

The assocaition, however,  said it could not to be intimidated by the minister or any entity that “seeks to distract PMAN’s fight for justice, as well as fight for the rights of over 20 million practitioners of the music industry and the creative industry at large.

But reacting, the Think Thank Media and Advertising Ltd, asked PMAN to stop accusing the minister of plagiarism.

In a statement sent to R, the managing director of the company, Taiwo Olakunle, dismissed Okafor’s claim.

“The company, which partnered the Ministry of Information and Culture for the summit, originated and shared the idea with Alhaji Lai Mohammed. PMAN should leave the minister alone and face us if it wants to go to court, because neither the minister nor the Ministry of Information and Culture has anything to do with the conceptualisation and development of the creative industry financing conference. We wish to put it on record that the allegation against the minister with regards the conference is spurious, highly misplaced,” the agency stated.