NIMN goes tough on “Quacks”, moves to enforce Marketing Act

The National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN) have declared its resolve to henceforth embark on strict enforcement of provisions of the 2003 legislative Act empowering the institute to regulate marketing profession in Nigeria.

According to the institute , starting from September 1, 2019, it becomes illegal for anyone in Nigeria to practice marketing without being duely registered to do so by the institute.

Declaring the Institute’s position was the President and Chairman of Council, NIMN, Tony Agenmonmen while addressing members on the occasion of his investiture at the Eko Hotels and Suites, on Victoria Island, Lagos.

In his words: “The National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria Act, 2003 Act no. 23, clearly makes it illegal to practice marketing without being a registered member of the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria.” He added therefore that “all marketing practitioners within the territory of Nigeria, whether Nigerian or foreign have an obligation to obey our laws”.

He continued: “I would like to draw the attention of all marketing professionals to find some time to understand the provisions of the Act. It is unfortunately not a matter of choice once you elect to practice marketing in Nigeria.”

The Institute boss added that, although it was not part of the institute’s resolve to apply “force” in achieving compliance, the institute has put in place deliberate measures with a view to ensuring that “once marketing professionals see the new NIMN in action, they will feel a compulsion to belong to such body that enforcement will not be necessary”.

He disclosed that under the first two years of his leadership of the institute, the council had made giant strides in repositioning and re-engineering the institute, adding that efforts in that direction had yielded positive results including the recent attainment of formal proclamation by the Honourable Minister, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investments, greater transparency in the institute’s finances as well as membership of the Presidential Quaterly Business Forum.

Reflecting on the institute’s historical past, he observed that one biggest task upon his assumption of leadership in November 2016 was to raise the profile and equity of the NIMN brand, pointing out that the council had recorded great successes through the support of some key corporate organisations such as Nigerian Breweries Plc and II Plc (formerly, Mobil Nigeria Plc).

He added that henceforth, his new leadership of the institute would focus on new areas of development including among other things, capacity building for marketing professionals establishing internship programme for marketing students as well as creating sabbatical opportunites for marketing educators.

Guest speaker at the event and Group MD of SO&U, Sir Udeme Ufot drew strong nexus between Ethics and Sustainability in Marketing, submitting that integrity and competitiveness were key ingredients to success in any organisation.

The event witnessed the induction of new Fellows and honorary Fellows into the institute’s hall of fame.