Dr. Rotimi Olaniyan receives Leadership Award in Experiential Marketing, hails MARKETING EDGE for exemplary leadership

By Zion Rufus

The Nigerian marketing and advertising industry witnessed the well-deserved recognition of Dr. Rotimi Olaniyan, Principal Consultant at Apex Marketing UK Ltd, who was conferred with the Leadership Award in Experiential Marketing during the momentous occasion of the MARKETING EDGE annual Awards of Marketing and Advertising Excellence, a night dedicated to celebrating outstanding achievements in the field of marketing and advertising.

The star-studded event, graced by esteemed advertising executives and prominent industry stakeholders, witnessed the presence of seasoned professionals , marketing and advertising icons like Mr Udeme Ufot, the Group Chief Executive Officer of SO&U and Co-Chair of the THECS Policy Commission of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG); Dozie Mbanefo, a renowned out-of-home practitioner and Chief Executive Officer of New Crystal and Managing Director of DLK Oil & Gas; Sir Steve Omojafor, the former Group Managing Director/CEO of STB-McCann; John Ehiguese, Founder and Managing Director of Mediacraft Associates; and Jaiye Israel Opayemi, Managing Director/ Chief Strategist of Chain Reactions Nigeria – all distinguished figures who have significantly influenced the Nigerian advertising and marketing landscape.

Extending his admiration to Mr. John Ajayi, the Publisher/CEO of MARKETING EDGE and recognizing his commendable work in establishing a national institution that commands industry-wide respect, Dr. Olaniyan said “Congratulations to John Ajayi and his team…Accepting an award of this nature provides an opportunity to reflect on one’s career and contribution. For me, one of the true blessings and accomplishments of my professional journey remains the several remarkable, gifted talents that God had placed within my orbit, to train, to mentor and develop.”

Speaking further, Dr. Olaniyan acknowledged the collective efforts and contributions that have enriched his path in marketing, citing the exemplary journeys of two individuals, Vivian Okorie Osigweh and Oluwatobi Adeola, who joined him at his startup agency, Proximity, in 2008 and 2009, fresh out of university.

Reflecting on their impactful journeys, he revealed that over the years, the duo have immersed themselves in the art and science of marketing, imbibing the agency’s unique methodology, and contributing significantly to Proximity’s ascent as one of Nigeria’s foremost Experiential Marketing Agencies.

“Today, Vivian runs her own very successful marketing agency, and Tobi as a senior marketing manager with a multinational brand is at the vanguard of Nigeria’s next generation of Marketing C suite leaders. I am extremely delighted and proud that they could receive the award on my behalf,” Dr. Olaniyan stated as he couldn’t be present to accept the award in person due to his absence from Nigeria.

Dr. Rotimi Olaniyan’s illustrious career spans over 30 years, marked by mentorship from distinguished marketing minds, work with diverse brands, and service to numerous marketing directors.

Currently sitting as the Program Director of a world-class postgraduate marketing program at a prestigious UK business school, Dr. Olaniyan continues his mission on a global scale, impacting the talent pool and the marketing practice environment across 23 countries and counting.