Marcom aces proudly don APCON Fellowship hat
By Zion Rufus
Profound admiration strengthened by grandeur rented the hall as great men and women who have contributed immensely to the growth of Nigeria’s marketing communications industry rose to be inducted as Fellows of the advertising profession.
Personalities who graced the induction ceremony which held at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Lagos on 19th January, 2022, include Nigeria’s “Father of Advertising” and CEO Troyka Holdings Limited— Biodun Shobanjo; Chairman of STB McCann and former Chairman of Zenith Bank, Sir Steve Omojafor; Heads of Sectoral Groups including Femi Adelusi, Media Independent Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MIPAN); Steve Babaeko, President, Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN); Tunji Adeyinka, Experiential Marketers Association of Nigeria (EXMAN); Idorenyen Enang, President, National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN); and a host of other notable advertising gurus.
Steve Babaeko once said “Today is the tomorrow you eagerly anticipated yesterday; make it count.”
This timely quote from the President of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria resonated even deeper when some of the newly inducted fellows took to their social media handles to recount their decades-strong advertising journeys even as congratulatory messages and well wishes poured in from their teeming audiences.
Steve Babaeko whose name and footmarks can be found on some of the most iconic marketing and advertising works in Africa said: “Being an APCON Fellow is the peak of advertising practice in Nigeria and I feel grateful to everyone that has in one way or the other contributed to my journey.”
Continuing, he shared: “In 1995 fresh off the bus from Kaduna, I went job hunting at MC&A (then the Saatchi&Saatchi affiliate in Nigeria) Mr. Victor Johnson was the Managing Director of the company set up by Dr. Biodun Shobanjo. Post the usual test and grilling, I started my advertising career as a trainee copywriter 3 months after my interview. Fast forward to today, my career has come full circle as I got presented my certificate as Fellow of APCON by Dr. Shobanjo.”
Lanre Adisa, founder of one of West Africa’s leading independent agencies, Noah’s Ark has a track record of laudable contributions and achievements worthy of note.
The adman shared: “This day will always remain cherished in my memory. Not just for the fact that I was inducted as a Fellow of the Nigerian advertising practice, but more for the fact that I had the rare privilege of being decorated by two industry legends who have played key roles in shaping my career. I worked for the Troyka group for ten years- four at MC&A: Saatchi & Saatchi and six years at Insight, the longest in my career.”
He continued: “I did six months at Rosabel, my shortest ever. Receiving my plaque from Chief Odunsi, co-founder of Rosabel and being decorated by Dr Biodun Shobanjo, Troyka Chairman, was a priceless moment for
me. Beyond being my employers at different times in my career, they have remained invaluable mentors to me. I actually consulted both of them before starting Noah’s Ark. These are the giants, among a select few, on whose shoulders I’ve been privileged to stand on to be what I am today in advertising. I’m indebted to Georgi Umunnah and Jimi Bankole for giving me my first job at MC&A.”
Lanre who has been on the juries of festivals across and beyond the continent such as the Pitcher Awards, African Cristal Festival, Cristal MAD, Loeries and the Cannes Lions, started out in 1990 as a Trainee Copywriter at MC&A: Saatchi & Saatchi, Lagos. He was an Associate Creative Director at Insight-Grey till 2003 when he joined TBWA\Conceptas CD. He left in 2008 as ECD to start Noah’s Ark. Noah’s Ark has evolved into a group of creative businesses which includes Integrated Indigo (PR), Underdog Productions (Content) and The RedWolf Company (Digital Creative).
Idorenyen Enang, who currently sits as the President of the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN) and CEO Corporate Shepherds Limited is a reform-minded business leader whose corporate journey has spanned over thirty years.
The marketing guru stated: “Glad to be donned with the Fellowship Hat of APCON and met with colleagues from all strands of our Marketing Communications Industry. Now the title shifts to frpa from rpa. Feels good to always climb to the pinnacle of your profession and to be rightly recognized.”
President of the Media Independent Practitioners Association of Nigeria, Femi Adelusi expressed his delight to be inducted as a Fellow of Advertising Profession along with several other distinguished professionals.
Adelusi who is also the Group Chief Executive Officer of BrandEye/Mediaplus said: “It’s a call to even higher responsibilities and leadership as we all must work together and contribute even more towards raising the bar in ethics, values and standards both for the practice of advertising and the business of Advertising.”
To mention a few from the wealth of his portfolio, part of Adelusi’s career journey included serving as Head, Media and Marketing Communications at Guinness Nigeria; Integrated Marketing Communications Manager, Coca-Cola Nigeria; Director, Media Planning & Strategy at MediaReach OMD, and Client Services Manager at Tequila Nigeria Ltd.
IMC Amazon, Temitope Jemirigbe who took the reins of DKK Limited amidst a near-foldup crisis and turned it into a full-service marketing communications agency within a short period, shared: “My gratitude is immeasurable. Work-Life harmony would have been impossible without you. I came this far because of you. Thank you for always having my back. There are so many people to be thankful to for this height I attained. Each of my siblings – whose words are always the right one to listen to; every employer – who took a chance on me and gave me the platform to express myself; everyone who had a word of encouragement for me; everyone who helped me navigate this road; and every friend that cheered me on.
Also worthy of note, Jemirigbe was appointed into the Jury for the 2021 Legacy Awards, an Award endowed in memory of Lady Diana, Princess of Wales.
Currently sitting as the Chairman for Women in Advertising, AAAN, her career footprints includes STB McCann Lagos, Prima Garnet Ogilvy, ZK Advertising to DKK, and excellent works on brands such as Coca-Cola, Multichoice, Standard Chartered Bank, Dangote, UBA, Zain, Unilever, amongst others.
Managing Director, Ocean Outdoor, Babs Fagade has served over two decades within and outside Nigeria in Private companies spanning Advertising, Media, Marketing, Sales, Banking, Telecommunications, Agriculture-Technology and Public sector including at Board levels.
Elated, he shared: “I’m hugely delighted to be inducted as a Fellow of the advertising profession. As a graduate of marketing, venturing into advertising is no doubt a calling for me. Events of several years in my 360 degree advertising career have confirmed that I made the right career decision into marketing communications industry. The milestones are worth the ‘grinds’; from becoming a Chartered Marketer soon after graduating, working across the entire sectors of the industry, becoming a Fellow of the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria in 2013 to becoming Director General/CEO of Oyo State Signage and Advertisement Agency (OYSAA) in 2015.”
Worthy of note, Babs pioneered publishing of OOH specialized and professional title in Nigeria as thought leadership and personal contribution to the development of outdoor advertising industry.
FULL LIST OF FELLOWSHIP INDUCTEES
Ikpe, Kennedy Onyeali
Gambo, Musa K K,
Iyoha, Philomena liedi
Eshiebor, Francis Ithe Iwarue
Enang, Idorenyen Asulavo
Baba – Kusa, Ali
Olaleye. Olusegun
Norah, Uchenna Michael
Adetayo, Aderemi Adetokunbo
Kagho, Ifechukwude
Oluwasona, Olukayode Morenikeji
Izamoje, Larry
Ajiboye, Saka Olasunkanmi
Olele, Margaret Oblagell
Fagade, Babajide Adiesoli
Ajufo, Emmanuel N.
Benson, Abayomi
lheabunike, Betsy Chika
Kupoluyi, Ayodele Ayodeji
Fadero, Alaba Joseph
Okeke, Christopher Emeka
Akpan, Joseph Isaiah
Adzufeh, Eki
Adebayo, Adeyinka Morufu
Imobeke, Linus Uche
Adelusi, Olufemi Akinwunmi
Jemerigbe, Temitope Kehinde
Omiata, Sanmi Sesan
Oyebanjo, Hannah Emanehi
Kolade, Owolabi Fuad
Adamu isa, Abadam
Aliede, Jonathan Elom
Ojo, Nosakhare Che les
Aniche, Obinna Justin
Owodunni, Omowunmi Olanrewaju
Olagesin, Kayode Olaniyi
Adedoyin, Idowu Babatunde
Odudare, Atilola Williams
Mbanefo, Chidozie
Mohammed, Salisu Ibrahim
Odubanjo, Oluwole Emma
Oru, Leonard Oru
Babaeko, Steve
Adisa, Moruf Olanrewaju
Alumona, Jenkins
Akintunde, Hakeem Adewale
Samalla, Mande
Anyaonu, Chike Emmanuel
Akokhia, Alfred isah
Onyebuchi, Martha U
Abunene, Omo Kingsley
Opetuga, Babatunde
Okogun, Celey Idebaneria
Nwankwo, Grace Olufunke
Abraham, Charles Oladapo
Onukwuba, Ifeyinwa Pamela
Nwosu, Kelechukwu Sidney
Jacks, Julia Inyang Oku
Akerele, Abioye
Fadoju, Odunmoluva
Adewale, Olusegun Adeshina
Meze, Mike Obiajulu
Iderawumi, Abiodun
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