The Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) on Thursday said that it would picket privately owned companies always reneging on its promise during talent-hunt programmes.
Its president, Mr. Casmir Obi said that PMAN would picket companies that were not giving winners of talent hunts their prizes after such events.
He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the association had received several complaints from the public bothering on extortions from talent hunts.
He said that the association would put a stop to such vices.
“It has come to our notice that some privately owned organisations have been coordinating talent-hunt programmes without giving the prizes they promised to the winners.
“They were fond of selling forms, promoting their companies and giving their programmes several media hypes just to attract the unsuspecting public to key-in into such programmes.
“However, the organisers were fond of not rewarding winners after their programmes.
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“This is a criminal act and must stop.
“Anyone caught extorting money from the public in the guise of organising talent-hunt programmes will be handed over to the appropriate security authorities,” he said.
Obi, however, commended genuine players and stakeholders of talent-hunt programmes in the industry.
He said that they had used such events to encourage the development of talents at the grassroots.
Obi advised organisations with good intentions of promoting talent hunts to always follow due process by getting PMAN’s endorsement before doing so.
“Getting PMAN’s endorsement will not affect your operations or plans.
“It will, rather, give the association the opportunity to be involved and also add colour to such an event,” he said.
Obi also said that PMAN had completed plans to kick-start its national talent-hunt programme in the last quarter of the year.
The president said that it would be the association’s way of discovering new talents at the grassroots.(NAN)
