OAAN holds AGM, re-elects Ajufo
By Felicia Nwosu
Sam Walton says, “Outstanding leaders go out of their way to boost the self-esteem of their personnel.” This was demonstrated when members of the Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN) came out en masse to re-elect the incumbent president, Emmanuel Ajufo, for the second term in office.
It was a new dawn as the Association held its 36th Annual General Meeting amidst joy and celebration. The AGM, which held in Abeokuta, Ogun State on the 25 June 2021, had as its theme: “Corporate Governance and Business Continuity Amidst Security and Economic Threats”.
The president of the Association, Emmanuel Ajufo, during his speech, noted that this year’s AGM was symbolic and special, as it marked the end of the tenure and the beginning of a new one, as well as the award and decoration of the Governor of Ogun State, H.E. Prince (Dr.) Dapo Abiodun, (MFR) as an OAAN Patron.
According to the OAAN boss, the AGM was an opportunity to give account of stewardship of the previous year to members.
Explaining further, he said: “The AGM was just to give a situation report of last year and this this year to the Association. It was a way of explaining what transpired within one year, it was an account of our stewardship. For this particular AGM, there was also an election, where all the executives of the past two years returned unopposed, signifying that the administration performed well.”
For his projection for the years ahead, the president, said, in his ‘usual tradition’, he has his plans but must first of all sit down to deliberate with the executive members first, to strategise on how to open new horizons in the next two years for OAAN to move to greater heights. He also stated that they would be engaging the government more actively and seriously. He said, “We need to make government understand our situation, as they must begin to see us as partners in the development of the economy, and not the other way round”.
Enumerating further on some of the agenda for the tenure, the newly re-elected president said his administration will ensure that the association andthe Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) are working hand in hand with understanding in their relationship.
He pointed out that this year’s AGM created an opportunity to bring in new members such as Loatsad Promomedia and JCDecaux into their fold, which he is excited and optimistic, alluding that bringing everyone under one roof will produce better results and benefits among the practitioners, government and the environment generally.
The Opportunity to See Limited boss, also assured the association that his administration will ensure the completion and sustainable implementation of the new outdoor advertising and signage system. It would be recalled that the outdoor regulatory environment in the FCT had been enmeshed in controversies following the approval of a new outdoor advertising and signage system that emphasised the upgrade of the vital sector in consonance with the rising profile of Abuja as a world class city.
The proposed policy had sent jitters among business and institutional operators in the city, including area councils and satellite towns all of which have expressed concerns about its financial implications. The proposal had resulted in the establishment of the new Department of Outdoor Advertising and Signage (DOAS) in the FCT.
According to the sector head, having recently visited the National Assembly, over DOAS, he noted that the National Assembly and the committee on Public Petition have given their ruling, but assured his members that they will ensure that every grey area is made clearer.
The incumbent president promised that the issue of debt is another area to give priority to, which he explained will be confronted through the Standard of Procedure (SOP), introduced by OAAN, in February, 2020. He explained that Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON),has also encouraged that the SOP be adopted by the whole industry, which he revealed that, a committee has been set up to drive it.
Lamenting on the issue, he said: “The issue of debt is another area we hope to confront, it is a worrisome challenge to members, as far as members are not being paid as at when due, it will continue to draw our businesses back, so we must sort it out.”
RECOMMENDED ARTICLES
Comment
No comments found.