Audu Maikori (born August 13, 1975, in Kaduna) is a Nigerian lawyer, entrepreneur, social activist, public speaker, and creative industry expert.
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.
[5] During his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program Audu and his friend, Paul Okeugo, founded the Guild of Artistes and Poets (GAP), a non-profit arts society.
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 2002, he along with his brother Yahaya Maikori started Law Allianz, a firm of legal practitioners based in Lagos and Abuja.
Later that year he, alongside Paul Okeugo and two other partners, produced the first event under the 'Chocolate City' banner in partnership with British American Tobacco, which was held at the University of Maiduguri.
In January 2005, Chocolate City signed Jeremiah Gyang under a recording and management contract and re-released the album 'Na Ba Ka'.
In 2012, after a corporate restructuring, Chocolate City Group was formed with renowned businessman and lawyer Hakeem Bello-Osagie joining the board as Chairman.
[8] In March 2018, Chocolate City launched CCX Lounge- a live music venue and lounge located at the prestigious Jabi Lake Mall, in Abuja.
In 2016, he was selected as a panelist and moderator at The Global Africa Investment Summit which was hosted by President Paul Kagame in Kigali, Rwanda.
[13] In October 2015, Audu was appointed the Chairman of the Nigerian Digital Music Monitoring Group, to develop specific methods for the implementation of the resolutions of the Summit.
In September 2010, Maikori was made a judge on the first season of Nigerian Idol alongside Yinka Davies and Jeffrey Daniel.
[14] The show proved to be a ratings success, but a year later he left the series to concentrate on other commitments, and was replaced by singer-publisher Charly Boy.
In December 2011, Chocolate City Group, under Audu's leadership, was named winner of the prestigious Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship in Nairobi, Kenya.