#joshuaajayi

[freelanews-blog]

Marketers, Communicators Renew Call For Gender Equity And Equality At WIMCA 2019

…As they proffer strategies in Marketing to women In today’s world, marketers are currently seeking for new ways to connect and engage the female population globally, a population growing remarkably. According to Worldometers, female population stood at 49.56 % in 7.62 billion of the world's population in 2018. Specifically, in Nigeria’s marketing and communications industry, a women conference and awards tagged ‘Women In Marketing & Communications Conference/Award (WIMCA)’ has been at the forefront of renewing the call for gender equity and also chattering the way forward for professionals in deploying new ways of marketing to women and seek long time engagement. The third edition of WIMCA held on August 30, 2019 in Lagos themed “Better the Balance in the Brands and Marketing Communications Industry” was in line with the theme of International Women's Day (IWD) this year, 'Better the Balance'.

L-R: Caroline Oghuma, Executive Head, Corporate Affairs, MultiChoice Nigeria; Bunmi Oke, Managing Director, Ladybird Limited; Charles Nnochiri, Head of Marketing, PZ Cussons; Tosin Adefeko, Managing Director, AT3 Resources; Joshua Ajayi, the Convener, WIMCA and Publisher, Brand Communicator; Omobolanle Victor-Laniyan, Head, Sustainability, Access Bank Plc and Dr. Ndidi Nnoli-Edozien, Group Chief, Sustainability & Governance, Dangote Industries Limited at the 2019 edition of Women in Marketing & Communications Conference/Awards (WIMCA) held at Muson Centre, Onikan Lagos at the weekend.

L-R: Anurika Azubuike, Founder, Marketplace Innovation Africa; Bridget Oyefeso-Odusami, Head, Marketing And Communications, Stanbic IBTC; Emmanuel Agu, Group Marketing Director, JOTNA Nigeria Limited; Joshua Ajayi, the Convener, WIMCA and Publisher, Brand Communicator; Bukky Bandele, Marketing Director, Electricals Africa, HPZ, PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc; and Tolulope Adedeji, Marketing Director, Abinbev West Africa at the 2019 edition of Women in Marketing & Communications Conference/Awards (WIMCA) held at Muson Centre, Onikan Lagos at the weekend.

Cross Section of WIMCA 2019 Awardees. Findings indicate that there are so many girls/ladies at the secondary and tertiary levels of education in Nigeria, in spite of this, few women are only at the top in the corporate world. A cursory look at the global scene revealed that the number of female CEOs in 2019 according to Fortune 500 now stands at 6.6%, a considerable jump from 2018’s total of 24 of 4.8%. Also, industry analysts reveal that, only four out of the top 20 Association Of Advertising Agencies Of Nigeria (AAAN) member agencies have women at the helm of affairs in different agencies. In the commercial banking sector, two out of the 21 commercial banks in Nigeria have female Chief Executive Officer. The ten major Media Independent agencies on the other hand do not have any woman as the head. Other sub-sectors of the industry cutting across both agency and clients’ side have very few women piloting the affair of their organisations. However, a good number of women are calling the shots as CMOs with opportunities for more women engagements on the client’s side of the business. Hence, according to the organisers of WIMCA, the event was designed to identify the current trends in marketing communications while addressing the career challenges of female marketing professionals. Corroborating on this, Joshua Ajayi, the Convener of WIMCA, and Publisher, Brand Communicator, said “For the past few editions of this conference, the theme of the International Women's Day (IWD) Celebration commemorated every March has always informed the theme of WIMCA, and this year is no different. Hence, the theme for this year's conference is ‘Better the Balance in the Brands & Marketing Industry,” after this year's IWD 'Better the balance' theme. “The theme is a reminder to us in this industry that the race is on for gender-balanced boardrooms, government, workforces, media coverage, income and wealth distribution among others. Interestingly, the industry, the nation, the continent and the world generally have in the few couple of years recorded history-defining achievements in gender balance, though, there is more to be done.” Speaking on the theme, Ademola Adebise, MD/CEO of Wema Bank and Keynote speaker, represented by Tunde Mabawonku, Chief Finance Officer at Wema Bank Plc said a lot of women in marketing and communications industry are doing great, he therefore urged women to support each other, be focus and be deliberate about their goals in the quest to ensure that more of them get to the top in their career and to the boardroom. Contemporary Trends In Marketing To Women Similarly, John Ugbe, CEO, MultiChoice Nigeria and keynote speaker also while speaking on contemporary trends in marketing to women explained that his organisation has more women who have risen to the top in their career and more are still springing up. He urged other organisations to deploy creative ways in addressing female related challenges. Proffering solution to a case study which involved an agency that has about 25 female staffs while 18 of them got pregnant at the same time, Ugbe suggested such an organisation should provide an enabling environment in terms of where they can get medical attention close by to make them comfortable and as well go all out to win the account of brands attracting pregnant women and mothers because the pregnant women in the agency can relate better with the brand than any other person. He added that his organisation will continue to seek more ways to empower women, one of which is the MultiChoice Women’s Forum. Meanwhile, during the panel discussion, moderated by Anurika Azubuike, Founder, Marketplace Innovation Africa, the panelists proffered new ways of marketing to women. Bukky Bandele, Marketing Director, Electricals Africa, HPZ, PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc said that today women are the biggest influencers and spenders and they are loyal once a brand is able to effectively engage with them. Bridget Oyefeso-Odusami, Head, Marketing and Communications, Stanbic IBTC said that women are really interested in the functionality of any goods or services they key into, explaining that more women invest 90 per cent of their earning in their financial and investment services. “We look at our customers and what their needs are and we offer them services that suit their needs. For instance, during the raining season where flooding is predominant, we educate our customers on how to stay safe and if you look at our business, the aspect of insurance brokage plays a major role here. “We create communication to encourage people to save and invest, and we do that through various technological means in which digital is one of them,” she said. On another note, Tolulope Adedeji, Marketing Director, AB InBev West Africa said that women are in the season of empowerment and are readily interested in anything that will empower them and make their lives better. Speaking further, she cited that in South Africa, an insight was gotten that more women were been abused at home by their husbands especially when their football teams lost and after taking beer, and as a beer company, AB InBev decided to launch campaign against domestic abuse with #No Excuse campaign and among others which helped grow their brand and at the same time reduced the vices. She added that women’s stereotypes and believes can also help build a brand. Similarly, Emmanuel Agu, Group Marketing Director, JOTNA Nigeria Limited pointed that in Television commercials and advertising campaigns generally women are often projected in a bad light either as a domestic worker or as a sex objects which is also often portrayed in the movies and musicals. He therefore explained that there is need for diversity which a balance of male and female in the work place and the need for organisations to stop lip services to issue of gender equality, “What an organization does is a reflection of who they are,” he said. Equity Vs Equality The issue of organisations choosing between equity and equality in their corporate philosophy has always been on the front burner. Equity is the quality of being fair and impartial while Equality is the state of being equal, especially in status, rights, or opportunities. At the second session of the conference, Dr Ndidi Nnoli-Edozien, Group Chief, Sustainability & Governance, Dangote Industries Limited who spoke on the sub-theme, ‘Better the Balance in the Work Place; Equity or Equality?’ said women in business are always dedicated and for them to find the way to the top they need to “define and understand the problem, align with a global movement.” She revealed that men usually networking, seal deals when at pubs, adding that they usually reach consensus before a board meeting. She therefore advised women to borrow a leaf from that, embark on networking, support each other to rise to the top and equally learn to complete favourably with men. Meanwhile, during the panel discussion moderated by Tosin Adefeko, Managing Director, AT3 Resources; Omobolanle Victor-Laniyan, Head, Sustainability, Access Bank Plc urged women to be more deliberate in their approach and stay on top of their trade irrespectively of men domination or not. She said that her organization, Access Bank has made the working environment easy for women irrespective of the stage of life they are. Charles Nnochiri, Head of Marketing, PZ Cussons, on his own part said that irrespective of being a man or woman, people should be treated equally and their expertise should be the criteria to pick a potential employee not necessarily the gender. He said that equity should be favoured ahead of equality. In the same vein, Caroline Oghuma, Executive Head, Corporate Affairs, MultiChoice Nigeria, stated that today’s organisations are making conscious effort to ensure equity in the workplace irrespective of the gender. She therefore urged women to be diligent and innovative in order to remain relevant in the work place. On a different note, Bunmi Oke, Managing Director, Ladybird Limited said both equity and equality are needed in the work place, pointed that all women have a role to play by being the best they can be, have a positive mindset, work hard and fight for what they want. Interestingly, the event was chaired by Udeme Ufot, Group Managing Director, SO&U while sectorial heads and members from NIMN, IAA, NIPR, AAAN and among others were also in attendance to give their support to women and WIMCA 2019. Award Winners are... Prominent and outstanding female marketing professionals in the Nigerian Integrated Marketing Communications industry were awarded from different sectors for their contributions to the growth of the industry. WIMCA since inception, has been a platform that recognizes, encourages and rewards excellent female professionals, brands and organisations for their contributions to their various industries and the country at large. Speaking before the award session, convener of the conference, Joshua Ajayi said “for this award, selection of the awardees went through a select panel of assessors for the various sub sectors to come out with the list of deserving female professionals,” he said. In the individuals’ awards category, Ore Famurewa, Corporate Affairs Director, FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc was crowned the Outstanding Female Corporate Communications Professional of the year (In the Fast Moving Consumer Goods Category). Also in the Fast Moving Consumer Goods Category, Nsima Ogedi-Alakwe, Marketing Director, Unilever Nigeria was awarded the Outstanding Female Marketing Professional of the year. For the IT & Telecoms Category, for her outstanding performance in the sector, Omasan Ogisi, General Manager, Corporate Affairs MTN Nigeria was crowned the Outstanding Female Corporate Communications Professional of the year. Interestingly, in the creative adverting category, Yinka Ogunde, Managing Director, Goals & Ideas Limited was crowned the Outstanding Female Creative Advertising Professional of the year. Similarly, Tola Obi, Chief Operating Officer, Centerspread Grey was awarded the Emerging Female Creative Advertising Professional of the year for her remarkable performance. Meanwhile, for her creative excellence in chunking out international advertising campaigns and also being the only woman in that position, Sinmisola Hughes-Obisesan, Creative Director, Leo Burnett Lagos was crowned Female Creative Advertising Director of the Year. In the Public Relations space, Tokunboh George-Taylor, Managing Director, Hills+Knowlton Strategies was awarded the Outstanding Female Public Relations Professional of the year while Bidemi Zakariyau, Founder, LSF|PR clinched Emerging Female Public Relations Professional of the year. Other individual awards are: Ify Onukwuba, Managing Director, Nigeria Advertising Services Limited, Outstanding Female Out of Home Advertising Professional of the year; Khadijat Okunnu-Lamidi, Founder/CEO, Slice Media, Emerging Female Out of Home Advertising Professional of the year; Nana Milagrosa, Founder/CEO, Mabatpro Experiential Agency, Outstanding Female Experiential Marketing Professional of the year; Buki Osunkeye, General Manager, Mindshare, Algorithm Media; Outstanding Female Media Independent Professional of the year; Bukola Akingbade, Founder/CEO, Neukleos, Outstanding Female Digital Marketing Professional of the year; Bekeme Masade-Olowola, Chief Executive Officer, CSR-IN-ACTION, Outstanding Female Sustainability Professional of the year; Cherry Eromosele, Chief Marketing Officer, Interswitch Limited, Outstanding Female 0f Marketing Professional of the year (In the Financial Technology Category); Margaret Mwantok, News Reporter, Guardian Newspaper, Outstanding Female Brands and Marketing Journalist of the year; and Julia Oku Jacks, Chief Executive Officer Treewater Limited, Lifetime Achievement Award, for her role in creating and sustaining a thriving marketing communications business. For the brand category, Maggi Cubes, Nestle Nigeria Plc emerged the Outstanding Seasoning Brand of the Year. Access Bank Plc, went home with the biggest two awards, emerging the biggest winner in the award. They emerged the Outstanding Female Friendly Bank of the Year for her THE W Initiative and also emerged as the Most Outstanding Brand Supporting Sustainability. The Outstanding Female Centric Foundation of the Year went to Felix King Foundation while the Female Centric Microfinance Bank of the Year went to LAPO Microfinance Bank and Haier Thermocool, emerged as Outstanding Female Centric Home Appliance Brand of the Year. Read the full article

[freelanews-blog]

#WIMCA2019: Marketing Gladiators To Storm 3rd Edition

A leading brands and marketing publication, Brand Communicator has announced the third edition of its annual Women In Marketing and Communications Conference/Awards (WIMCA) event scheduled to hold on August 30, 2019 at Muson Centre, Lagos from 9am prompt. Confirmed to speak at the conference as Keynote speaker is Ademola Adebise, MD/CEO of Wema Bank, who will be speaking on the theme “Better the Balance in the Brands and Marketing Communications Industry.” Also, John Ugbe, CEO, MultiChoice and Dr Ndidi Nnoli-Edozien, Group Chief, Sustainability & Governance, Dangote Industries Limited are expected to speak on the sub-themes “Innovating For Change: Contemporary Trends in Marketing to Women” and “Better the Balance In The Work Place; Equity or Equality?” in the first and second sessions respectively as keynote speakers. Other notable experts expected to speak at the event as panellists and moderators are: Bukola Bandele, Marketing Director, PZ Cussons, Cool World; Bridget Oyefeso, Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Stanbic IBTC; Chris Wulff-Caesar, Marketing Director, Friesland Campina Wamco; Tolulope Adedeji, Marketing Director, ABInBev West Africa; Emmanuel Agu, Marketing Director, Jotna Group; Omobolanle Victor-Laniyan, Head Sustainability, Access Bank; Charles Nnochiri, Head of Marketing, PZ Cussons; Caroline Oghuma, Public Relations Manager, Multichoice Nigeria, Tosin Adefeko, Managing Partner, AT3 Resources and among others. WIMCA is the foremost thought leadership platform for insights and contemporary trends in engaging female consumers and at the same time recognising outstanding women and corporate organizations for their contributions to the growth of their various industries and the country at large. It is a free to attend event, however, registration is required online at http://wimca.ng/ Speaking on the objective of the conference and awards, the Convener of WIMCA, Joshua Ajayi, Publisher of Brand Communicator said, “WIMCA this year will be bigger and better, as experts spread across industries have confirmed to speak. Interestingly, the objective of the event remains the same which is to serve a mentorship platform for young and prospective female professionals to ignite their potential towards attaining enviable heights in marketing and management. As well as inspire the entrepreneurial spirit in women towards creating and sustaining enduring marketing and communications industry businesses. “It is also a platform dedicated to celebrate women of outstanding achievements in the marketing and communications industry while creating a platform for networking among them.” Recall last year’s event had the likes of Alex Goma, Managing Director, PZ Cussons; Folake Ani-Mumumey, Chairman, Board of Directors, FBN Insurance Brokers; Julia Oku Jacks, Managing Director, Treewater Limited; Lampe Omoyele, Managing Director, 141 Worldwide; Iquo Ukoh, Managing Director, Entod Marketing; Cherry Eromosele, Chief Product & Marketing Officer, Interswitch; Steve Babaeko, Managing Director, X3M Ideas; Nsima Ogedi-Alakwe, Marketing Director, Unilever and Funmilayo Falola, Head, Brand & Marketing Communications, Wema Bank who spoke on the theme “Women in Marketing Communications: The Press for Progress” and subtheme “Engaging Female Consumers in the Digital Age” and “Pressing for Progress to the Boardroom.” WIMCA since inception, has been a platform that recognises and rewards excellent female professionals, brands and organisations for their contributions to their various industries and the country at large. Mrs. Bola Thomas, the Co-founder of LTC bagged the Prestigious WIMCA Lifetime Achievement Award while other notable individuals and brands were awarded for their contribution to their very industries and the country at large. Expected attendees include, Chief Executives of Marketing Communications businesses and brands, Marketing Directors of Corporate Organisations, Senior Advertising Practitioners and Professionals, Senior and Middle level female executives in Creative, Public Relations, Media Planning, Digital, and Experiential Marketing agencies, Female Members of Corporate Communications and Marketing Departments in Corporate Organisations, Marketing managers, Brand Managers, and Product Managers, Industry recognised professional Bodies, such as APCON, NIMN, CIM, Members of advertising Industry groups: MIPAN, AAAN, OAAN, PRCAN, ADVAN, EXMAN as well as female Students of Mass Communication, Marketing and Allied disciplines. Read the full article

[freelanews-blog]

PR Practice: TPT Boss Insists Disruptive Innovation Necessary For Future Survival

The Chairman and Lead Consultant of TPT International, Mr. Adetokunbo Modupe has expounded that disruptive innovation remains the critical life support that will define the future of Public Relations (PR) practice in Nigeria. Modupe, one of the leading lights in Nigeria’s PR practice, and a key note speaker at the 2019 edition of Brandcomfest at Muson Centre, Onikan-Lagos on Thursday, explained that “the future will be service driven as no one will own anything.” In no distant future, Modupe who spoke on Digital Disruption and the Future of Public Relations Practice, noted material possession will have a little significance in today’s global market as real-time lending equips us with the many benefits of ownership. “Uber doesn’t own any vehicle, Airbnb doesn’t own any real estate. Facebook, as the world’s most popular social platform, almost creates no content. Ali baba, as the world’s most valuable retailer, has no inventory,” he said. Quoting Clayton Christensen who described disruptive innovation as a technology or concept whose application significantly affects traditional market or industry functions, Modupe maintained that Disruptive innovation is like a virus which does not happen suddenly, but surely will change the ways things are done “An example is how the internet as a disruptive innovation has caused the remodeling of the book selling industry. All the big book selling chains market share have been swallowed by Amazon because without having to own brick and mortar stores, it can display its inventory,” he said. He also pointed out other dimensions of Disruptive innovation to include a process by which a product, service or culture takes root slowly and is sometimes ignored but relentlessly climb up to displace tradition, citing the local example of Cowbell versus Peak Milk. According to him, the future of Public Relations practice will be anchored on three C’s of Culture, Concept and Content.

While emphasising that the world is now divided into two – The Physical and The Digital, Modupe explained that culture remains the willingness to unlearned traditional ways of doing things, learning to adjust to global culture, which is driven by technology cannot be over emphasized. He added that Concept can be deliberate, accidental or a fall out of conversation mood. “With the cultural adjustment and alignment, comes the challenge of idea generation. What will differentiate successful practitioners will definitely be how big and compelling your ideas are. If your agency is known for great ideas you will remain relevant,” Modupe noted. While reminding the gathering that substantial part of PR business is storytelling – creating content, managing content and leveraging content, the TPT Lead strategist emphasised that the world has moved from traditional media to new media and now to every media. “Until recent times, content consumption was predictably from established media platforms. But not anymore as the number of smart phone users may equal the number of publishers. What will determine who and how your content is received is the content itself,” he told the appreciative audience. His paper was thereafter dissected by a panel of discussants made up of seasoned practitioners such as Uche Ajene, Managing Consultant, Quadrant MSL; Amaechi Okobi, Group Head, Corporate Communication, Access Bank and Bolaji Okusaga, Managing Director, Precise Communication. Others include Ayeni Adekunle, Founder, BHM; Adebola Wiliams, CEO, Red Media and O’tega Ogra, Group Head, Corporate Communications, BUA Group. The panelists agreed with Modupe that strategic innovation holds the key to the future of PR and marketing communication industry in Nigeria and enjoined practitioners to brace up for the challenges of the ever changing world. Read the full article

[freelanews-blog]

Brand Communicator Set To Organise Brandcomfest In Lagos

BRAND COMMUNICATOR, Nigeria’s most consistent brand and marketing communications magazine is set to organise BRANDCOMFEST scheduled for Thursday and Friday, May 23rd and 24th at the prestigious Shell Hall, Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos. BRANDCOMFEST was designed to be the largest gathering of stakeholders in the brand and marketing communications landscape, which caters to the most contemporary and topical issues in the industry, the foremost thought-leadership platform for stakeholders within the brands and marketing communications value chain, and also the most credible and prestigious platform recognising, rewarding and inspiring agencies, brands and individuals in the marketing communications and media landscape in Nigeria. According to Joshua Ajayi, convener of BRANDCOMFEST and publisher of Brand Communicator, “The essence of organising BRANDCOMFEST is to serve as our own way of linking the future, in line with the vision which we have religiously kept faith with since we hit the newsstands over a decade ago. “Also, the event will serve as a rallying point for integrated marketing communications practitioners to chart a new course for the industry. “There is no platform of convergence for stakeholders in the IMC value chain to foster co creation while addressing each of the challenges of the sub sectors. Hence, BRANDCOMFEST was conceived to bridge this gap.” Consequently, as part of the activities lined up for the maiden edition of BRANDCOMFEST, the editorial board has concluded plans to organise a two-day high profile event with the theme, ‘Digital Disruption And The Future Of Brands And Marketing Communications’ amidst other sessions ranging from Experiential Marketing, Out-of-Home Advertising, Sustainability, Public Relations, Media Investment, Agency Business and Brands and Agencies Success Stories session. The sessions will take place from 9am each day. Interestingly, over 48 Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) experts are billed to speak as keynote speakers and panelists at the event. On the first day, topics such as Digital disruption and the future of Brands and Marketing Communications, The future of Experiential Marketing in a Technologically Driven World, The future of Out of Home Advertising in the Face of Digital Disruption, Sustainability and Effective Brand Building for the Future, Digital Disruption and the Future of Public Relations Practice will be deliberated upon. On the second day, experts will discuss topics ranging from Media Investments, Evolving Trends, Challenges & Opportunities to Agency Business: Sustainable Agency Models in the Face of Disruption, and Brands and Agencies' Success Stories. The topics will be discussed by Media independent, advertising industry and brand management experts respectively. BRANDCOMFEST will be spiced with the celebration of the exploits and achievements of brands, agencies and notable players with remarkable impacts in the brand and marketing industry. Some of these agencies, brands and individuals will receive BRANDCOM AWARDS at an A-Class event to be attended by top corporate players at the Shell Hall, Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos on Friday May 24th, 2019 by 6pm. Organisers of the event said all the recipients will be awarded as a product of pain-staking review and assessment of their immense contributions to the industry, meaning that all these agencies, brands and individuals have stood head above shoulders in the crowd, and were unanimously voted as the recipients of the inaugural BRANDCOM AWARDS. BRAND COMMUNICATOR is Nigeria’s most consistent brand and marketing communications magazine. It is also the organiser of Women in Marketing and Communications Conference/Awards (WIMCA), the largest gathering of female marketing and communications professionals in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa. It is also a partner to the two biggest creative advertising shows on the continent, Loeries Africa Middle East and African Cristal Festival. The platform was named PR magazine of the year 2017 and 2018 by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Lagos Chapter. Read the full article