Paul Okoye// (born 21 April 1967), also known as Paulo Okoye or Paul O, is a Nigerian event promoter, talent manager, record exec, philanthropist and business man.[1]

Paul Okoye
Born
Paul Okoye

(1967-04-21) April 21, 1967 (age 57)
NationalityNigerian
Other names
  • Paulo Okoye
  • Paul Okoye
Occupations
Years active2002 - date
Organizations
  • Upfront and Personal Global Management
  • One Africa Music Fest
  • One Africa Global Foundation
  • Cartel Records
TitleCEO
Awards The Headies 2019 Special Recognition Award

Talent management

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Okoye is the CEO of Upfront and Personal Global Management, that manage Kizz Daniel, Dakore Egbuson-Akande, Tekno, Iyanya, Flavour, amongst others.[2][3][4] Big Brother Naija housemates Mercy Eke and Erica Nlewedim are also under his management.[5][6] He was the manager to former Nigeria national football team captain, Jay Jay Okocha. Multinationals among its clientele in Nigeria include Pepsi, MTN, Nigerian Breweries, Samsung, Nike, Heineken, Hennessy, etc. He facilitated the Davido, Tekno, Burna boy and Tiwa savage pepsi deals. He also facilitated the Burna boy/Star Lager deal.[7]

He was part of the team that cemented Tekno's deal with Sony Music.[8][9]

Event promoter

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He is the organizer of the One Africa Music Fest.[7] The show takes African music to the diaspora and it has been held in the UK, US, and UAE.[10][11][12] The show has fintech company Interswitch as its headline sponsor,[13] and Air Peace as its airline sponsor.[14] It has had the performances of artistes like Wizkid, Davido, Burna Boy, 2Baba, Tiwa Savage, Tekno, Zlatan Ibile, Olamide, Harmonize, Jah Prayzah, Akothee, Vanessa Mdee, Kcee, Diamond Platnumz, Busiswa, D12, Wurld, Kranium, Flavour, Bella Shmurda, Rema, Kwaw Kese, Töme, DJ Spinall, DJ Cuppy, DJ Obi, DJ Xclusive.[7]

On 4 December 2022, he was listed by the Nigerian national newspaper This Day as top show promoter alongside Paulash Panache, and smade, among others[15] [16]


Record exec

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He is a fifty percent co-owner of record label, Cartel Music. Tekno owns the remaining half.[17]

Foundation

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Okoye partnered with Multichoice during the COVID-19 pandemic. Apart from giving out relief materials and raising funds for people affected by the pandemic one way or another, they also hosted a televised Hope For Africa concert.[18] Apart from the music performances by singers such as 2Baba, Diamond Platnumz, Waje, Cobhams Asuquo and Betty G, the concert had various Nigerian celebrities in attendance, offering goodwill messages to those at home due to the lockdown.[19]

In a bid to end world hunger, and also extreme poverty, Okoye, through One Africa Global Foundation, donated one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) to an organization dedicated to empowering young people with skills, education and jobs, thereby achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).[20][21]

Recognition

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In 2015, Okoye was celebrated by Chivas Regal, who hosted a red carpet event tagged Taste of Luxury, in his honor. The dinner had performances by American performers 112, NEXT and Jagged Edge. And was attended by friends and well-wishers including Audu Maikori, Banky W, Chidinma, Ayo Makun, Tee-Y Mix, Toke Makinwa and Toolz.[22]

In 2017, he was celebrated on his Golden jubilee anniversary with a cover page issue on Vanguard newspaper's lifestyle pullout Allure.[1][23]

In the Headies 2019 awards, he won the Special Recognition Award.[24]

Personal life

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Okoye moved to London at a young age. He has a son and a daughter. He lives in Lagos, London and Dubai.[25] He is head of Igbo group, Ndigbo Royal Heritage Worldwide.[26] He lost one of his best friends to COVID-19.[27] He has a collection of luxury cars.[28][29] He is dating Nigerian actress Iyabo Ojo.[30][31][32]

References

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  1. ^ a b Suleiman, Yemisi (2 April 2017). "Paul Okoye – Celebrating An Entertainment Guru At 50". Vanguard (Nigeria).
  2. ^ Mayowa, Adenekan (16 January 2022). "Kizz Daniel's Signing With Paulo Management Good Way To Awaken Career – Mayorspeaks". This Day.
  3. ^ Okundia, Jennifer (16 September 2017). "Dakore Akande Signs New Management Deal". P.M. News.
  4. ^ Awojulugbe, Oluseyi (11 July 2016). "Iyanya To Leave Own Record Label". TheCable.
  5. ^ Reporter, Ugochukwu (11 October 2019). "Mercy Eke Signs Management Deal With Paul Okoye's Upfront And Personal (Photos)". Igbere TV News.
  6. ^ Reporter, Temitope (12 September 2020). "Erica Nlewedim Signs New Management Deal". Vanguard (Nigeria).
  7. ^ a b c "Meet The Brain Behind One Africa Music Fest". City People Magazine. January 12, 2017.
  8. ^ Anazia, Daniel (26 November 2016). "Pana King, Tekno Inks A Deal With Sony Music". The Guardian (Nigeria).
  9. ^ Salihu, Idoko (11 January 2022). "Tekno In New York To Sign Sony Deal". Premium Times.
  10. ^ Nwanne, Chuks (24 August 2019). "Excitement As One Africa Music Fest Hits London Today". The Guardian (Nigeria).
  11. ^ "Interswitch One Africa Music Fest Brings The Ultimate Afrobeats Party To Brooklyn". Sahara Reporters. 27 September 2021.
  12. ^ "Wizkid, 2baba, Others Take 'One Africa Music Fest' To Dubai". Vanguard (Nigeria). 16 October 2019.
  13. ^ "Interswitch One Africa Music Fest". Interswitch Official website.
  14. ^ Samuel, Olajide (12 October 2019). "Air Peace Becomes Official Airline Of Interswitch One Africa Music Fest'". The Punch.
  15. ^ "Paulash Panache, Paul Okoye, Smade, others listed among the top show promoters". This Day. 4 December 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  16. ^ "Top 5 most prominent people in Nigeria's show/club promoters". Dailytimes Ng. 16 January 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  17. ^ "Tekno Set To Depart MMMG, To Launch Record Label With Paul Okoye". Culture Custodian. January 12, 2017.
  18. ^ "MultiChoice Partners One Africa Global Foundation on COVID-19 Hope for Africa Concert". 19 May 2020.
  19. ^ "MultiChoice Partners One Africa Global Foundation for Covid-19 Hope for Africa Concert – THISDAYLIVE".
  20. ^ "APPLY: ONE Africa to award $100k to organisation committed to achieving SDGS in Africa". 16 September 2022.
  21. ^ "One Africa Award to Incentivise Organisations Dedicated to Achieving SDGS". 15 September 2022.
  22. ^ "International And Home Superstars Celebrate Paul 'Paulo' Okoye's Special Themed Chivas Taste Of Luxury With 112, Next, Jagged Edge, Toolz, Ay Makun And More Stars Attend". Bella Naija. December 10, 2015.
  23. ^ "Celebrating An Entertainment Guru At 50! Paul Okoye Is On The Cover Of Vanguard Allure's Latest Issue". Bella Naija. 11 April 2015.
  24. ^ "2022 Winners - the Headies". 17 March 2022.
  25. ^ Sunday, Odita (21 September 2022). "1004 Estate Residents Bicker Over Electricity Crisis". The Guardian (Nigeria).
  26. ^ Onyejiuwa, George (11 May 2022). "Igbo Group To Hold Unity Carnival". The Sun (Nigeria).
  27. ^ Okanlawon, Taiwo (11 May 2022). "Popular Show Promoter Loses Friend To COVID-19". P.M. News.
  28. ^ "Davido mocks Paul Okoye". 31 May 2017.
  29. ^ "Take a Look at the Expensive Cars Owned by One Africa Music Fest CEO, Paul O". 17 September 2018.
  30. ^ https://lifestyle.thecable.ng/stepmother-paulo-okoyes-daughter-praises-iyabo-ojo/
  31. ^ "Happy birthday 'stepmother', Paulo's daughter hails Iyabo Ojo". 21 December 2022.
  32. ^ https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/12/iyabo-ojo-celebrates-45th-birthday-unveils-identity-of-lover-paul-okoye/amp/