Sir Steve Omojafor Turns 70

One of the leading lights in the integrated marketing sector, Sir Steve Omojafor has turned 70, and in celebration of this glorious milestone a series of event have been announced.

The birthday celebration commences Tuesday with a musical serenade at St Gregory’s College hall Obalende, Omojafor’s Alma Mater, and it will be followed with cocktail. On Wednesday there will be a mass in honour of the elder statesman at St. Gregory’s College Chapel and the celebration will be rounded off with a glamorous reception at Civic Centre Lagos.

Sir Omojafor’s birthday promises to be one of the grand events in the IMC sector as well wishers, friends and colleagues in the industry are set celebrate the iconic adman, and the indelible marks he has made in the industry.

Omojafor belongs to the generation of builders; those who laid the solid foundation for what the advertising industry has become today. He joined the industry in the early seventies after a two year stint as a journalist with Daily Times.

His sojourn as adman naturally started at Lintas in 1972, where he was mentored by the likes of Chief Moemeke, Olu Falomo, Segun Ogundumi. It was there that he rose through the ranks to become the Managing Director. While at Lintas, he began toying with the idea of setting up an advertising shop alongside his bosom friends, Akin Odunsi and Tuned Adela. “We deliberated at length, wondering whether or not it was something we could do,” Omojafor.

It was that deliberation that led to the setting up of Rosabel Advertising Limited, which has turned out to be one of the pace-setting agencies in Nigeria. In 1990, Sir Omojafor left Rosabel to pioneer another ad shop STB-McCann which has turned out to be another high flying agency.

Today, his bold move has paid off significantly as he is a major pathfinder in the IMC industry and over the years has brought his depth of experience to bear on major iconic brands in the Nigerian competitive market. He has been active in the promotion of brand ideas and also contributed significantly to the growth of the industry.

Affectionately called Omo Jesu by his friends and colleagues, Omojafor has served as the President of the Association of Advertising Practioners of Nigeria, AAPN, now called AAAN, and Vice President of International Advertising Association, IAA, Nigerian Chapter. He served as the Chairman Board of Directors at Zenith Bank Plc. until June 2014 and currently serves as a Non-Executive Director. He was conferred with the national merit award of the Officer of the Order of Niger, OON for his numerous contributions to the growth of the country.