Ad industry celebrates Akin Odunsi at 75
The advertising industry in Nigeria is, today, celebrating one of its icons, Senator (Chief) Kamardeen Akinola Babalola Odunsi, who turns 75 today!
In a comment on its social media handles, the umbrella body of Nigerian advertising agencies, Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria, AAAN, disclosed that it was “celebrating an icon at 75”, praying God to fill his days with happiness.
“May your days be filled with immeasurable happiness,” the comment said.
The association’s president, Mr. Steve Babaeko, while felicitating with the respected industry leader on his (Babaeko’s) Instagram page stated “Happy birthday to one of the godfathers of advertising in Nigeria and a senior golfer, Senator Akin Odunsi. God bless you, sir”.
Elsewhere, the Secretary of Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Engr. Ayo Olubori, in a congratulatory message to the respected leader, who is the Mayegun of Ota in his home state of Ogun describes him as a man of “uncommon leadership qualities, courage and evident faith in the peace, unity and progress of our dear nation”.
Olubori added that all his above stated attributes have made Odunsi to remain “one of the most highly respected political icons over the years”; adding that his (Odunsi’s) life symbolises the assured reward for single-minded commitment to the ideals of diligence, humility, perseverance, focus, dedicated service and progressiveness”
Senator (Chief) Kamardeen Akinola Babalola Odunsi acronym KABO, but simply called Akin Odunsi, is one of the pathfinders and leading lights in the Nigerian advertising milieu. His career in the profession started from the United States of America, USA where upon graduating with an MS in Advertising from the University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois in July, 1973 worked with Vince Cullers Advertising in Chicago before returning to Nigeria in 1974 to join Grant Advertising, a foremost advertising agency at the time. He later moved to Admark Advertising where he became the first Nigerian Chief Executive in 1976.
In 1978, Odunsi co-founded Rosabel Advertising with his friends, Chief Tunde Adelaja and Sir Steve Omojafor and was the agency’s Managing Director until 1997 when he became the Executive Chairman.
He held various positions with the Association of Advertising Practitioners of Nigeria, AAPN (now AAAN) becoming President of the association from 1989 to 1992. Odunsi retired as Executive Chairman of Rosabel Leo Burnett in 2003.
In 2011, he won the Senatorial election in the Ogun West Senatorial District on the ticket of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and so became a member of the Seventh Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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