To further disrupt the marketing communication space with different innovations and contents, a creative transformation company, H & T Africa has debuted in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.
H & T Africa is a partnership between Idris Olorunnimbe’s The Temple Company, a global full-service talent, and events management agency, and The Hook, an advertising agency founded by four partners namely Sam Ochonma, Toheeb Dele Balogun, Adebayo Owosina and Akinwale Muse.
The transformation company was officially launched at a media event in Lagos, Nigeria, on Friday, July 1st, 2022. The event had in attendance dignitaries in the integrated marketing communications, academics, and clients.
Some of the notable guests at the event include the Oniru of Iruland, Oba Gbolahan Lawal, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Princess Adebisi Sosan, MD of Lotus Bank, Mrs. Kafilat Araoye, wife of the Minister for Works, Dame Abimbola Fasola, among a host of others.
Speaking at the launch, Mr. Idris Olorunnimbe, GCE/ Founder, The Temple Company, and H & T Africa, said the partnership was ultimately to help drive growth for the Nigerian creative industry. This, he said, the agency would do by disrupting the space with innovative and unusual contents.
According to Olorunnimbe, H & T Africa’s areas of core competence are three-fold and this include data, content and digital. In between, they offer a bouquet of services such as audience Insight, analytics, infrastructure, talent management, events, experience design, product design, channel, performance marketing and socials among others.
“We have been scouting for this collaboration long ago and I am glad to be doing this with the fantastic guys at The Hook Agency. H & T is here to tell the Nigerian and African stories to the world. We aim to tell stories that will leave an indelible mark.“
Sam Ochonma, MD, The Hook Agency and Co-Founder of H & T Africa, said the partnership is “an exciting milestone” for the agency. “H&T is the birth of a creative transformation company in Africa. The Hook has been around for the past four years and we can’t be more excited for what the collaboration will do for the creative industry,” he said.
Also speaking, Mr. Toheeb Dele Balogun, Co-Founder of the Hook Agency, and H & T Africa said strategic partnership is the new gold as this will spark growth and development within the industry.
He said, “You will agree with me that collaboration has become a regular part of a modern-day business plan. With H & T, we are trying to bring two forces together. We as the Hook have been a traditionally impact creators using the traditional and digital advertising model. Temple on the other side is very big on the infrastructure beat, so what we are trying to do is to bring these two things together to have a seamless operation from ideas, concept generation to execution.
“For us at The Hook, we think that is one of the ways we can further our core, which is to create impact. We believe right now that we are swifter with creating impacts with H&T.”
Balogun added, “With H & T, you should be expecting what you have never seen before. Expect a huge impact in how advertising and brand communication is being done not just in Nigeria but the whole of Africa.”
Lauding the collaboration, the Oniru of Iruland, Oba Gbolahan, reiterated the need for more partnerships in the country, especially in the creative industry.
“I have always loved the creative industry. The advertising landscape is changing globally and of course here in Nigeria. We have loads of talents here in Nigeria and all they need is a platform to showcase their talents. To achieve your aims faster, you need the skill sets needed for the job and be open to collaborations. I have seen the skill sets in both companies and I must commend you for forming this merger.”
