MIPAN President Urges Media Practitioners To Outpace Disruption As 2026 AGM Enters Day 2 In Ogun State

The Media Independent Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MIPAN) officially opened its 2026 Annual General Meeting today at Ogere Resort, Ogun State, with President Dozie Okafor calling on media practitioners to adapt, innovate and embrace technology in order to remain relevant amid rapid disruption in the industry.

The AGM which began yesterday, holding under the theme “Monetizing Tomorrow: Outpacing Disruption, Capturing Growth in the Next Era of Media,” brought together MIPAN’s Past Presidents, Executive Council members, heads of sectoral groups, industry partners and invited guests for a review of the state of the association and a broader conversation on the future direction of media practice in Nigeria.

In his welcome address, Okafor described the chosen theme as timely, noting that advances in technology, changing consumer behaviour, artificial intelligence and growing demands for accountability were reshaping how media is planned, bought and measured. He said the industry’s rapid evolution required professionals to continue learning and innovating if they were to remain valuable to clients and relevant as a sector, and expressed confidence that the AGM would provide a platform for those conversations among stakeholders.

The 2026 AGM also marked the completion of two years in office for Okafor’s Executive Council, which came into office on a manifesto themed “Engineering Growth,” anchored on four priorities: strengthening industry standards, encouraging innovation and creativity, investing in technology and data, and expanding collaboration and member value. Reviewing progress against that mandate, Okafor said the Council had strengthened engagement across the industry, expanded learning and mentorship opportunities for members, introduced initiatives celebrating creativity and excellence, deepened collaboration with key stakeholders and academic institutions, and improved MIPAN’s visibility within and outside Nigeria. He acknowledged that work remained outstanding on the association’s technology and data agenda, but said the Council’s efforts over the past two years had laid a solid foundation for future administrations to build upon.

Okafor also highlighted continued growth in MIPAN’s membership, noting that the association now comprises 44 member agencies, a development he described as a reflection of the confidence agencies continue to place in the association.

He thanked members, committees, Past Presidents and partners for their commitment over the past two years, describing the association’s progress as a collective achievement. Looking ahead, he cautioned that the pace of change confronting the media industry would only accelerate, and called for continued investment in knowledge, adoption of new technologies, stronger professional standards and greater collaboration among industry players, stressing that the challenges facing the sector could not be solved by any single agency acting alone.

Okafor closed his address by urging delegates to approach the day’s discussions with open minds, noting that the ideas shared at the AGM would help shape not only MIPAN’s future direction but also the broader trajectory of Nigeria’s media industry.

Media Independent Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MIPAN), was founded in May 1999, at the Anthony area of Lagos State, Nigeria, It is an association of registered media independent agencies operating in Nigeria.

With the rapid fragmentation and proliferation of the media channels, coupled with increased complexity of the media planning & buying informed by consumer sophistication, MIPAN was created to develop and improve advertising media profession in Nigeria. The association aims to maintain the highest standards of professional conduct, etiquette and discipline in the industry with a view to attaining a standard comparable to any leading professional body in the world.

MIPAN is known to inspire, lead, promote, train and advance the knowledge of media independent practitioners in the field of advertising media and marketing communication. As a body that likes to give back to its members, MIPAN also promotes schemes for enhancement of the welfare and economic advancement of members of the association.

The association has diligently maintained high standards since inception and is willing to take the integrated marketing communication field to a greater height by also working inclusively with all other sectoral bodies and the regulator in the Nigerian marketing communications industry for a better & more rewarding professional future.