Top industry leaders grace MIPAN Patron’s Day 2021
By Abimbola Mohammed
Top industry leaders attended this year’s Media Independence Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MIPAN) Patron’s Day 2021. The event turned out to be a double celebration as it coincided with the Moulid El Nabi holiday.
As early as 11.30am, top media buying practitioners and their families had converged at the hall to the open field waiting for the various sporting activities to commence.
The event, which quickly gathered momentum, started around 12pm with attendance of MIPAN President Mr. Femi Adelusi, EX MIPAN President Dr. Ken Onyeali Ikpe, including Patrons Dr. Biodun Sobanjo, Mr. Ayo Oluwatosin, Mrs. Iquo Ukoh, Alhaji Bello Kankarofi and Mr. Edwin Thorpe, EXMAN President Mr. Tunji Adeyinka, brand owners, members from different agencies as well as wishers at the Sheba event center, in Ikeja Lagos.
In his opening remark, Mr. Adelusi noted that the essence of the Patron’s Day is to celebrate MIPAN’s five patrons, who have contributed immensely to the growth of the media industry in the past years, and also to take a break from work and pitch competitions among agencies as they are one, regardless of different names.
In his words: “MIPAN Patron’s Day is a day in which we come together, first, to celebrate our patrons who have made significant contributions in the Marketing Communication Industry in Nigeria and our past patrons. In addition to celebrating the achievements of our patrons, we also use it as an opportunity to have fun, engage, and relax. As agencies we compete on daily basis to win accounts, distinguish our agencies, but this is one day in which we all come together to bond, have fun, build relationships and network because it is one industry.”
Speaking on the reason for this year’s event with the theme “One Media 3.1”, Mr. Adelusi said there is need for collaborations among the industry players.
Hear him: “Our theme for this year is “One Media 3.1”. It’s because we believe that the future of the industry is us collaborating and working together – this is what one media is about. It’s about the way we work, it’s about the way the industry works on the business of advertising, it’s about moving our industry forward and building a sustainable economy for Nigeria.”
Alhaji Bello commended the effort of the association and its achievement over the years saying: “I am very excited to be here, although I retired many years ago, but sitting on these other side reminds me of my tenure and it’s quite exciting. I can see a lot of practitioners which means the business is growing.”
He advised that all agencies present at the event should make sure they register with APCON.
Speaking in the same vein, Dr. Sobanjo said: “Looking at the turn out today, it shows that the profession is alive and kicking and I must commend you all for the professionalism that you have brought to bear on the practice of the media independent, spending money that client entrusted in your care.”
Commending the efforts of the media practitioners, the ad guru himself said: “From outside, I am usually amazed by the quality, content and context of what you guys are bearing; you need to congratulate yourselves. Here we are, it is one full circle and I am happy that you get yourselves together once a year to unwind, and I must congratulate the leadership and members of your exco, including everybody that is present here. Please, enjoy yourselves.”
Mr. Oluwatosin also commended the effort of the MIPAN Members as he said he is aware that the numbers of new agencies are increasing, which means “the profession and the industry are on a growth load”.
Speaking on the theme of the event, he said; “I will like to make a comment on the theme of the event; the idea of ‘One Media 3.1” is a fantastic one as it will help us to progress in the spirit of one media. Although we are competitors, at the same time we also cooperate towards enhancing our collective time together.”
Speaking further, he said: “The idea of the Patron’s Day is very commendable, as our families cannot overemphasis the mental uplifting it brought to us. It’s a way of increasing bonding among us.”
On his part, the EXMAN President, Mr. Adeyinka appreciated industry players for coming together: “Thank you all for coming together at a time like this; it is a very unique opportunity to bond. I think we have the opportunity to change right now which is why different associations, AAAN, EXMAN, MIPAN, and the rest of us are all coming together under one umbrella to make sure that we train ourselves on the fundamentals of the industry. I bring you good wishes – enjoy yourselves.”
The former MIPAN President said the Patron’s Day is a significant one for practitioners to celebrate and have fun: “This is a special ritual for us and we know what we represent and we know how important the day is for us. So, that is why we are all in the mood of celebration, setting aside every other alternative activity so that we can celebrate and enjoy ourselves.”
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