In the third part of this report, we dig further to identify other eggheads that made remarkable impact in the advertising industry, as the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN), marks 50 years of its collective existence as a body.
It is a season of celebration for the advertising industry. A time to recognize those who nurtured that emerging squad of creative people that has grown from a small, blossoming body into flourishing, imaginative, and ground-breaking industry leaders championing the growth of integrated marketing communications in Nigeria.
May Nzeribe
May Nzeribe, an icon of Nigeria’s advertising industry, was the brain behind the firm, Sunrise D’Arcy. He was also one of the brains behind the Advertising Practitioners Council of Niger (APCON). He served on the International Advertising Association (IAA), and World Board of Directors, as well as a member of IAA’s Professional Development Group. He was President of the IAA Nigeria Chapter, and three terms President of the Association of Advertising Practitioners of Nigeria – AAPN (now the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria – AAAN). He was the one who formally registered the association with the Corporate Affairs Commission during his tenure.
He is also one of the few icons in advertising to publish a book- “Advertising Ethics and Regulation in Nigeria: The Challenges.”
He was formerly chairman of Nigeria’s Advertising Standards Panel (ASP) and APCON respectively. Dr. May Nzeribe is the first Black African recipient of the IAA’s Medal of Merit (London, 2000). He died in 2012 while receiving cancer treatment. Nzeribe was at the forefront of championing the cause of cancer care and management in Nigeria and was instrumental in garnering support for the setting up of the Port Harcourt Cancer Care Centre.
Mr. Kolawole Ayanwale
Ayanwale’s advertising career began in October 1980 at Grafik Advertising Limited. He later moved to Campaign Services Limited as a Client Service Manager.
On his resignation from Campaign Services Limited, Kolawole teamed up with his friends to set up Centrespread Advertising Limited. Where he serves as the Chief Executive. He was seen as a bridge between the old and the new practitioners in the advertising industry.
An astute ad practitioner, he completed the Advertising house’s project within 12 months- the AAAN Secretariat situated at Plot 8 Otunba Jobi Fele Way. He was the one who finalized the re-christening of the Association from its former name, Association of Advertising Practitioners of Nigeria (AAPN) to Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) in line with the resolution at the 2001 Extra-Ordinary General Meeting of the Association.
Enyi Odigbo
Enyi Odigbo is the founder and Chairman of Casers Group, marketing communications, and media investment company, with interests in a diverse portfolio of businesses in the integrated marketing communications space. He provides an overview of Casers Group – from its beginnings to its most recent achievements.
Odigbo attended the University of Edinburgh. His group holding company, Casers, offers complete advertising services through a number of strong, individual companies. Without a doubt, he made profound impact on Brand Communications and advertising in Nigeria.
He is a simple and purposeful personality who created new opportunities by introducing International Business Seminars into the activities and calendar of AAAN when he was in charge. His strong belief in professionalism propelled him and the board into ensuring that relevant activities and courses that could help improve the performances of members are done regularly. He inaugurated the Board of Trustees for the Association and ensured that LAIF Award got off the ground. It was a remarkable effort as deserving current and past practitioners received recognition for their creative contributions.
Funmi Onabolu
Funmi Onabolu is the founder of the popular agency, Cosse. He is a dynamic leader who contributed immensely to the actualization of industry reforms as President of AAAN. He also ensured the resuscitation of the Heads of Advertising Sectoral Group (HASG) and Agencies Funfair during his tenure as President. Mr. Onabolu initiated the advertising industry reform during a courtesy visit as President of the Association to Mr. Lolu Akinwunmi who was then appointed Chairman of APCON as the Governing Council. It is remarkable to note that the seed Onabolu planted has grown to become the rev of the moment in the industry today.
Rufai Ladipo
Rufai is the founder and CEO OF Agile Communications Limited. Before now, he was MD/CEO at STB McCann Lagos, a frontline Ad Agency in Nigeria. He also had a stint at Scanad Nigeria as CEO.
He is a tenacious ad practitioner that has made a tremendous impact in his decades of practice. He is a Past President, of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria, a Former Council Member and Chairman, and a Membership Committee of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON).
He is a quiet gentleman who worked tirelessly to ensure he succeeded in his one-year tenure as President. During his tenure, the Industry Reform was signed into law
Kelechi Nwosu
Nwosu has almost three decades of marketing communications experience cutting across Media & advertising. He is currently in charge of a group of Marketing Communication firms, including FUSE, Red Media & TBWA\ CONCEPT. He is passionately interested in the role that marketing communications can play in growing iconic brands out of Nigeria.
Kelechi was elected the President of the Association of Advertising Agency of Nigeria (AAAN) because of his passion and commitment to the Advertising industry in Nigeria. He occupied the position between April 2014 and May 2016.
He came in as President when the industry was going through APCON leadership crisis. He led industry initiatives that engaged the Federal Government to resolve the APCON crisis as well as embarked on Public advocacy projects. He facilitated the collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Information and some States government on public advocacy projects and engaged government agencies in the use of licensed agencies for marketing communication businesses. Mr. Nwosu initiated the Secretariat electrification project and mobilized support for the Secretariat improvement projects.
Mr. Kayode Oluwasona
Oluwasona is a thoroughbred, business strategist, and seasoned marketing communications consultant. He is is an LBS alumnus and has a degree in Economics and an MBA in Marketing. He has worked at different times for huge clients like Leventis Motors, and Unilever Nigeria before joining Insight Communications, then a Grey Global (WPP) affiliate, in 2001 as Senior Account Director.
He was later elevated to the board of the company as an Executive Director in January 2005. In February 2011, he joined Rosabel Leo Burnett as its first non-founder Managing Director/CEO. And finally, in January 2014, Oluwasona berthed at Harmonee Concepts Limited in 1997 as co-owner and Managing Director
As President of AAAN in 2016, he ran a purposeful administration that focused on bringing the Association closer to all relevant stakeholders, enhancing the businesses of members of the Association, and increasing the efficiency of the secretariat. Under his leadership, the Association witnessed a positive surge in recognition and gravitas. His tenure witnessed the largest participation of past presidents and senior practitioners in the Association’s activities in recent times. As President, he was a bridge builder whose influence cut across all generations of advertising practitioners.