By Jeremiah Agada
One of Nigeria’s foremost universities, Obafemi Awolowo University will confer Honourary Doctoral Degree on doyen of advertising in Nigeria and Chairman of Troyka Group, Biodun Shobanjo.
The conferment which is in recognition to his many contributions to the industry and country in general will take place at the institution’s 44th convocation ceremony on Saturday 14th December, 2019.
This information was today, made known by the doyen himself at the ongoing National Advertising Conference holding in Abuja. While breaking the news, he said, “I will be conferred with the highest degree, HON.LL.D., Honorary Doctor of Laws by the Obafemi Awolowo University.
“I am not aware that anybody in our profession has ever been conferred with such an honour.” He added that the award is one for the industry, hence to share it at the conference.
Recall, not too long ago, a Special Recognition Award from the University of Lagos Alumni Association, was presented to Shobanjo by the Executive Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi during the Alumni’s Golden Jubilee Awards and Gala Night at a well-attended event at the Lagos Continental in Victoria Island, Lagos.
Shobanjo is Nigeria’s foremost marketing communications practitioner whose pioneering role in the development of the marketing communications industry in Nigeria is unrivalled with a chain of firsts.
His career began in broadcasting at the then Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), now Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN).
He veered off that path to advertising where he grew to the level of being reputed to be the one man that has had the most positive effect on the marketing communications industry in Nigeria in the last fifty years.
His Holding company, Troyka Group has become famous in Nigeria as the ‘University of Advertising’, a situation that has seen “leaders of most of the highly successful companies in the marketing communications industry being led by Troyka alumni.”
This is part of the evidence of the fruits of the group’s continuous investment in human capacity development that has seen it support and partner with institutions of higher learning, including the University of Lagos and the Pan Atlantic University, where Troyka supports the Mass Communication Department and School of Media and Communications respectively.
Shobanjo, has over the years, won numerous awards for professional excellence and integrity. He is also the first person to be inducted into the prestigious Brandcomfest Hall of Fame.