Olugbodi, George-Taylor, Ajufo, Others Bags Special Recognition Awards, as BJAN Unveils Brand Knights

Tokunboh George-Taylor, CEO Hill+Knowlton Strategies; Otis Ojeikhoa, CEO, Brands Optimal; Emmanuel Ajufo, CEO, Opportunity To See (OTS) and Rotimi Bankole, GMD SBI Stagwell, were among ten seasoned marketing communications professionals honoured by the Brand Journalists Association of Nigeria (BJAN) at the 2022 edition of the Brands and Marketing Conference and Awards held on Friday at Oriental Hotel, Lekki, Lagos.

The veteran professionals, among others, bagged Special Recognition Awards for their contribution towards the growth of the various sectors in which they operate in particular and the Integrated Marketing Communications space in general.

Other awardees were Kelechi Nwosu, CEO, TBWA/Concept (Creative Advertising); Emmanuel Oriakhi, Marketing Director, NB Plc (Marketing); Omobolanle Victor-Laniyan, Head, Sustainability, Access Bank Plc (Sustainability); Anthony Chiejina, Chief Brand Officer/Communications, Dangote Group (Brand Management); Eniola Bello, MD, Thisday Newspaper (Media) and John Ajayi, Publisher/CEO, Marketing Edge Magazine (Brand Journalism).

Mrs George-Taylor was recognised for her contribution in the Public Relations space while Otis Ojeikhoa bagged the honour in the Experiential Marketing sub-sector.

Rotimi Bankole’s award was in the Media Buying category while Ajufo was rewarded for his effort at uplifting the Outdoor Adverting sector.

On his own, Dr. Tunji Olugbodi, EVC/GCEO, Verdant Zeal Group, didn’t just bag the Special Recognition Award but was also named Patron of BJAN.

The 2022 edition also served as the 10th anniversary of the annual Brands and Marketing Conference and Awards.

Speaking at the award ceremony, BJAN President, Clara Okoro said the recognition became necessary to appreciate excellence, set standard. Also, aimed at paying tributes to the veterans’ resilience in the face of several challenges in the Nigerian economic landscape and encourage upcoming practitioners.

During the 10th anniversary of BJAN annual brands and marketing conference recently held in Oriental hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, the Managing Director of Nitro 121, Lampe Omoyele observed that as markets, economies and other factors change in this increasingly unstable and unpredictable environment, companies that can adapt within the eco-system have a distinct advantage.

Omoyele made the assertion while speaking on the lecture with the theme: ‘Brands and the Role of Technology in a Disruptive Economy’

According to him, companies can adapt through products and services that must be relevant to the consumer and think ‘Glocal’ in their business strategy. He gave an example of how 7Up Bottling Company, a soft drinking producing global company adapted by producing sanitiser to meet consumers’ needs and as part of survival strategy. He warned organisations either to disrupt the market or be disrupted.

“To survive, organizations need to meet ever-growing consumer expectations. To thrive, organizations must go one (or many) steps further and create novel and memorable customer experiences”, the difference between survival and being phased out of the market is the ability to act quickly and make fact-based decisions. Survival in the disruptive economy requires the ability to quickly manage opportunities and threats in an effective and efficient way. Being prepared with right leadership, governance and capabilities is crucial for survival and needs to be in place at once”, he said.

He identified awareness, affordability, availability, assurance or trustworthiness as four critical keys for brands to win.

Also, as part of activities to spice up the 10th edition of the annual marketing conference, BJAN unveil it’s latest initiative, Brand Knights, which features advertising icon, Steve Omojafor.

Brand Knights, an informative feature-based newsletter fully focused on the integrated marketing communications industry and designed to beam it’s searchlight on industry players.