Audu Maikori

Audu Maikori (born August 13, 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 the leading African record label Chocolate City Entertainment.

He is well known as the founder of Chocolate City, an entertainment lawyer, and is regarded as the "Simon Cowell" in Nigerian Idol's first season.

In 1997, Audu and his friends at the University of Jos started discussing the possibilities of setting up a club.

After a debate on the name of the club, Audu suggested naming the club Chocolate City. Chocolate City became the biggest rave around the Universities in northern Nigeria.

During his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program Audu and his friend named Paul Okeugo founded the Guild of Artistes and Poets (GAP), a non-profit arts society.

He was raised in Lagos and attended Adrao International School and King's College before obtaining his law degree from the University of Jos in 1999.

He later obtained his Bachelor of Laws (B.L.) from the Law school Abuja.

The GAP held its first meeting in April 2001.

The GAP formed strategic alliances with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the British Council and held art exhibitions in partnership with the French Cultural Centre.

The GAP expanded its reach to Jos, Plateau State and in Lagos.

Audu was called to the Nigerian Bar Association in January 2001 and started his legal career working as an Associate with the litigation-inclined firm of Chief Afe Babalola SAN & Co where he worked from 2001 to 2003.

He worked as legal advisor to leasing company of Nigeria (a subsidiary of Bank of Industry), and company secretary of Abuja Markets Management Limited.

In 2002, he along with his brother Yahaya Maikori started Law Allianz, a firm of legal practitioners based in Lagos and Abuja.

Chocolate City Limited was registered in October 2003 but commenced business in 2005.

Audu partnering with Paul Okeugo and his brother Yahaya Maikori as directors of the company.

Later that year he alongside Paul Okeugo and two other partners produced first event under 'Chocolate City' banner in partnership with British American Tobacco, which held at the University of Maiduguri.

Audu was introduced to a song called Na Ba Ka by an artist named Jeremiah Gyang's by Six Foot Plus.

By 2005 the GAP had over 300 active members.

He represented Nigeria in the UNIDROIT Sub-Committee of governmental experts for the preparation of a preliminary draft Protocol to the Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment on Matters specific to Space Assets in 2005.

In January 2005, Chocolate City signed Jeremiah Gyang under a recording and management contract and re-released the album 'Na Ba Ka'.

In 2006, Maikori was appointed Senior Legal consultant with CPCS Transcom International, where he worked on the legal and regulatory aspects of privatization transactions including the Nigeria Ports Authority, Nigerian Railway Corporation, unbundling and privatization of PHCN.

In mid 2006, M.I was signed up to Chocolate City.

He won multiple awards during his career, including the International Young Music Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2007.

Audu Maikori was born in Kaduna State but hails from Kwoi, in Jaba local government, home to the infamous Nok Culture to Adamu Maikori a renowned lawyer and politician, and Laiatu Maikori (née Gyet Maude - the Ham Royal family).

In May 2007, Maikori co-organized the first Nigerian International Music Summit in March 2007.

Over 400 music industry stakeholders drawn from all over Nigeria attended the event.

Maikori is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators UK, International Association of Entertainment Lawyers, the Nigerian Bar Association and International Bar Association (IBA).

He was selected as lead legal consultant for key national infrastructure projects including the Lagos Rail Mass Transit project (2008), Abuja Mass Transit project (2006-2008) and Kano Mass transit project in 2011.

Maikori has received commendations for his work in developing the youth including being invited to Albania in 2008 to deliver a keynote speech at a seminar organized by the Albania Ministry of Youth and Employment, Minister of culture and British Council.

In 2012, after a corporate restructure, Chocolate City Group was formed with renowned businessman and lawyer Hakeem Bello-Osagie joining the board as Chairman.

Four companies were formed to constitute the group namely Chocolate City Music, Chocolate City Media, Chocolate City Distribution and STM with Audu appointed as President of the Group.

In March 2015, Audu resigned from 'Law Allianz' to concentrate on other business affairs.

In March 2015, Audu announced the return of Jesse Jagz to Chocolate City.

On 30 June 2015 Audu via Twitter announced his exit as CEO of Chocolate City Music and the appointment of M.I as the new CEO of Chocolate City Music, with label mate Ice Prince Zamani as the Vice President of the music label.

Audu also announced the objectives for the 3 Chocolate City subsidiaries to include radio, television and film.

On 30 June 2015, Audu resigned as CEO of Chocolate City Music handing the reigns to former vice president of the label, M.I.

Ice Prince was made the new vice president of Chocolate City.

In March 2018, Chocolate City launched CCX Lounge- a live music venue and lounge located at the prestigious Jabi Lake Mall, in Abuja.

The 400 capacity venue is purpose-built for live music and its decor has been hailed as authentic Afro Nigerian by Mode Men Magazine.