Audu Maikori is a multi-award-winning Nigerian lawyer, entrepreneur, social activist, a creative industry professional, and public speaker. He is also the founder and Group CEO of Chocolate City Group.
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Audu Maikori Background
Audu Maikori was born on the 13th of August 1975, to Adamu Maikori, and Laiatu Gyet Maude in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Although Audu hails from Kaduna, he was raised in Lagos.
He had his primary education at Adrao International School and secondary education at King’s College. In 1993, Audu went to the University of Jos, Plateau State (UNIJOS), to continue his educational pursuit. He graduated in 1999 with an LLB, Law.
After his LLB, Law, he went to the Nigerian Law School, Abuja, where he obtained his Bachelor of Laws (B.L) in the year 2000. In 2008, Audu Maikoro went to Pan-Atlantic University’s School of Media and Communication and graduated with a CLE, Creative Enterprise.
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Also, he attended Yale’s University Leadership Management Programme on organizational Leadership in 2014. Additionally, Audu Maikori is an alumnus of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Sloan School of Management in 2016, for an advanced management course.
The creative industry professional is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK).
Audu Maikori is married to Zel Umunna Maikori.
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Audu Maikori Career
In 2005, Audu Maikori got a job as the Company Secretary/Legal Advisor of Abuja Markets Management Limited. He worked with the company for a year, and left to CPCS Transcom International in 2006, where he resumed as the Senior Legal Consultant /Company Secretary until 2008.
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He was one of the members of the SURE P program and a one-time chairman of the Nigerian Digital Music Monitoring Group. He is currently the Director of Five Music, and the founder of Music Week Africa (MWA). Mr Audu is also the Executive Director of Unanimous Games.
Chocolate City Group
Although Audu and his friends founded Chocolate City in 1997 as a club. Chocolate City Limited was then registered as a Limited Liability Company in October 2003, but didn’t commence business activities until 2005. Paul Okeugo and Yahaya Maikori are co-founders and first directors of Chocolate City Limited.
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In the same year Chocolate City commenced operation, the company partnered with the British American Tobacco and organized its first event. The event took place at the University of Maiduguri and was a huge success.
Later that year, Chocolate City signed a recording and management contract with Jeremiah Gyang. In 2006, the company also signed the famous Nigerian rapper – M.I. Abaga.
The company went through a corporate restructure in 2012 and became Chocolate City Group. After the restructure, the popular businessman and lawyer, Hakeem Bello-Osagie, became the Chairman of the group.
Subsidiaries of Chocolate City Group are Chocolate City Music, Chocolate City Media, and Chocolate City Distribution. Audu Maikori is currently the President of Chocolate City Group.
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Audu Maikori handed over as CEO of Chocolate City Music to M.I Abaga, on the 31st of June 2015. Chocolate City launched a 400 capacity lounge called CCX Lounge in March 2018.
Memberships
- Member of the board of advisors of RecyclePoints.
- Board member at Global Rights: Partner for Justice.
- Mr Audu is amongst the board members of the Felabration Festival Planning Committee.
- Member of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG).
- Board Member of the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON).
- He was once a member of the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC).
- Was once a board member of the Zimbabwe Nigeria Chamber of Commerce.
- Mr Audu was once a member of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE P).
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Chairmanships Of Audu Maikori
- Chairman of the Nigerian Digital Music Monitoring Group from 2016 to 2018.
- Current Chairman of CCX Lounge.
- Mr Audu is the Chairman of Beat drone.
Volunteer Experience
- Head Local Security Team at the World Economic Forum, Africa – 2014.
- Co-Founder of the Economic Renaissance Group – 2015 till date.
- Fundraising Manager at the Southern Kaduna Relief Group – 2016 till date.
Fellowships
- Fellow of the Nigerian Leadership Institute (NLI).
- Life Fellow of the Guild of Artistes and Poets (GAP).
- Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Portfolio Management of Nigeria.
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Audu Maikori Quotes
“The fool is not he who asks what and when he/ she doesn’t know. The fool is he/she that is so confident that they don’t ask out of pride, so they don’t seem dumb and they still end up making fools of themselves!”
“Sometimes you have to hold these ignorant people by the arm and force-feed them with knowledge…… Sometimes.”
“There has never been, there isn’t and there will never be another YOU. That’s your secret power!!!”
“Whatever age you are when you find your entrepreneurial bone- don’t be scared to take the leap… because you may fly…you may just fly.”
“Say to yourself- I was made to be global, achieve things only wildest dreams could conceive and only in that incredulity will I find my true purpose in life.”
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“It’s a blessing to do what you love and get paid doing it!!! This doesn’t mean there aren’t days you want to quit. Or don’t get frustrated… It simply means the actual pay isn’t in the bank but in the souls’ fulfilment…”
“Note your enemies’ failure doesn’t mean you yourself will succeed- it simply means we have more failures around us- rather we should focus on being the best we can be!”
“Don’t form enemies in your mind, cos the person you are beefing maybe totally oblivious of your existence.”
“Dear entrepreneur, pray for strength, resilience and fortitude to keep on doing what you do. The journey isn’t for the lily-livered! But still, we thrive! Remember the real work is in sleepless nights, days of pure frustration but the rewards are worth it.”
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Awards And Recognitions
- International Young Music Entrepreneur of the Year (Nigeria) – 2007
- (Global Winner) International Young Music Entrepreneur of the Year – 2007
- Enterprise Foundation named him Mentor of the Year – 2010
- Special Recognition for outstanding contribution to the Nigerian music industry by City People Magazine – 2011
- Creative Entrepreneur of the Year for Music – 2011
- African Awards for Entrepreneurship – 2011
- Entertainment Executive of the year at the Nigerian Entertainment Awards (NEA) – 2011
- Outstanding Award in Music and Entertainment at the National Youth Merit Awards – 2011
- Young Entrepreneur of the Year at the Diaspora Professionals Award – 2011
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- Nigerian Reunion Corporation named him Entertainment Executive of the Year – 2012
- National Youth Merit Award in Entertainment (NYMA) – 2012
- Award for Excellence by the Nigerian Law School Class of 2013
- Junior Chambers International (JCI) award for Leadership in Governance – 2013
- Fidelity Bank SME Leader Award – 2014
- City People Magazine Special Recognition award for his outstanding contribution to the Nigerian music industry – 2015
- Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) Enterprise Award for Entertainment – 2015
- City People Magazine Special Recognition for outstanding contribution to the Nigerian music industry – 2016
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Entrepreneurial Lessons
Work Hard Towards Achieving Your Vision
Audu Maikori had the vision to be one of the key players in the Nigerian entertainment industry. What did he do? He didn’t fold his hands and just dream. He started work on his dreams right form his university days.
As an entrepreneur, write down the vision and never lose focus. It’s never too early or too late to start working on actualizing your vision. Everyone has their morning.
Diversify
Your ability to diversify and excel in more than one venture is what makes you a credible entrepreneur. Never put all your eggs in one basket as a business owner.
Audu Maikori is a trained lawyer by profession, but he diversified into entertainment and other business ventures. His decision to diversify earned him the popularity and recognition he enjoys today.
