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The Media can make or break economy, says Bunmi Oke. President AAAN

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8 years ago

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Bunmi Oke is the President of Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) and the representative of the industry at the national conference going on in Abuja. Aside all that, she is the Chief Operation Officer/Executive Director of 141 Worldwide, an advertising service company. She recently clocked 50 having put in 28 years in the industry.
In this interview with GODDIE OFOSE and REGINA WHENU in her office in Lagos, Oke speaks on the role of the media in building business and nation, and on how Nigeria will remain one of the most attractive markets for foreign direct investment.

 

With all sense of responsibility and humility, there is a subject called crisis management. And if it wasn’t a difficult situation, it wouldn’t have to be a subject of research on its own. One unfortunate thing about any crisis is that nobody knows how they are going to act because you cannot rehearse or prepare for a crisis.
Some people are experts in crisis management because they’ve managed so many. The reaction and the time must be looked at because it’s a new problem which nobody has encountered before in the history of Nigeria.
I don’t think anybody prepares for crisis in this part of the world. Advanced nations have learnt that they need to prepare for crisis management but we are yet to learn.
There is need for a new level of communication management. Appropriate method of reaction to crisis situations and the communication strategy to handle these periods must be implemented. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) must step up its game by educating Nigerians on how to prepare for crisis management.
An average individual cannot just handle communication crisis. You need a team of professionals to do this. We do not realise how important communication management is during any challenge in the country. Foreign intervention so far, even in terms of measurement of achievement, is not much. But the difference is that they are communicating what they are doing daily.
Look at the Malaysian Airline crash. Nothing has happened since that day, they still have not found even a bicycle spoke, but they’ve managed the emotions of the people, families of victims and everyone around the world because of adequate communication strategy. Now, people are prepared for the worst. Everybody dreads the unforeseen, but it is well managed. That has been communication management.
We are at a level in Nigeria where we’ve got to start doing things professionally. It looks like everybody can do that, but no, you need to have professionals.

How best can the government address insurgency, especially in respect of security information?
We need to be frank and match ourselves with countries that have fast-tracked development, like Dubai, which took a conscious effort. They are now marketing those countries in such a way that would make them attractive. It is driven both by the government and private sector. We must remember that there is collective effort in security in the sense that everybody must be their neighbour’s keeper.
We must not turn a blind eye when things happen. There should be a national re-orientation for citizens and the government at all levels where everybody takes up the responsibility to be informal ambassadors. If people meet, what impression would I create in their minds? You must be an informal ambassador of your country, of yourself, of your local government and of course of your state.
And until we all take up that mantle to say I must play my part, the government cannot do everything. By doing the right thing, the government can also be forced to take responsibility at their own level by the time we take up our own.
You don’t see most foreigners talk negatively about their country, yet their countries are not perfect. You see foreigners coming here on a daily basis. They were all here at the World Economic Forum, which got negative publicity because of insecurity in the country.
The government will do its best, people will come because risk is part of life, but my point is, if it was so bad there must be something good. In every situation, something good will come out of it.
That is why I say the media is powerful. The media has the power to make or break any business or country. The media should embark on a conscious campaign to rebuild Nigeria. Besides, media marketing communications also have a huge role to play. We can write the copy line, media can do the press releases; we can work with government to expose these materials. This conscious effort would produce good result for us instead of waiting for the government all the time.

How close are we to that Nigerian dream?
I have no prophetic capability, so I cannot answer that question categorically. Many things defy the odds. When people say this is how things are done globally, you find out that it defies the odds here.
For instance, it is only in Nigeria that a 36-year-old is still referred to as youth. You will see a man who is 75 years old, who will say he is just starting life when he should be in the departure lounge.
In all sense of responsibility, I think united we stand, divided we fall. When the house is not united, you cannot do anything. I think we should wait and let time tell, because who would have believed that Chibok was going to be a global issue. It has brought out our humanness; it has brought out the importance of the media, the importance of digital technology, and borderless communication, and so many things.
As time goes on, many Nigerians will understand the power of social media, and by the time we get to conclusions, and it is an open discussion, Nigerians will take up the topic they agree with or don’t agree with. Those days when you put things under the table are gone, that is why proceedings are done in the open. Everybody finds out that you are speaking not just for yourself.

Why are there no mergers and acquisitions in advertising when banking, oil and gas, manufacturing and other sectors thrive on them?
We shouldn’t take any industry in isolation of its growth chart. Just like in marketing. Look at the life cycle of advertising in Nigeria, let’s face it, a lot of the pioneer advertising have been individuals. They are entrepreneurs who have paid their dues. Therefore if you build something, it’s unlikely that you want to let it go just like that. It’s the sentiment.
In other countries the life cycles of the companies are different. They’ve come to a point when they realise that united we stand, divided we fall. They’ve realised that a one man-business normally dies with that person. That’s why you find out that a lot of the multinationals have passed from two or three generations to what they are today. They are not in the first generation of the owners, so to speak. The life cycle of different countries reflect on that type of thinking.
As we all get to the middle age and start moving up, the thinking is going to change. In digital technology, we are going to see a new crop of thinking that might be totally different. Things are going to change. There are still going to be multinational and local industries that require the services of marketing communications consultants.

How has marketing communication faired in the past three decades?
I started my career in Grant advertising at 22, and if I’m going to be 50, that means one way or another I’ve been in the industry for 28 years. I only took a break, a biological break when I had my children. I have always been in media and marketing communications.
One thing I have learnt is that our industry is very much dynamic. You have to always change with the time to remain competitive. The education you have today is only going to be valid for two years, not to talk of now with digital technology. The point I’m bringing out is that I learnt two things. Always try and anticipate the need to develop yourself at any point so that you can be relevant. You must be consistent with what goes on. The body will age, but the brain does not have to age. So to keep the brain youthful, you have to keep in touch with reality. Dynamism is what determines this industry.
The second thing I discover is that if you want to play, I always like the idea of playing at the international level but with local knowledge. And that has been a personal dream. I want to be able to go to anywhere in the world and fit in. This means that I have to keep myself abreast of communication language.
The other part I also discovered is that you need very much to be a good team player to be able to evolve. I have had the opportunity to work with different people and discovered that everybody has individual skills that are harnessed when the strength is brought together. If somebody is a good copywriter and doesn’t have a product to sell, he will languish in the dark.

Is the advertising industry immune to falling standards?
We have to be careful, because standard can be misconstrued. In marketing communication, we must evolve communication plans that help to project the businesses, services and products that have a brand issue or a communication issue at hand. Don’t forget that businesses are also evolving. When you say falling, it could be relative and that is why I find it very difficult to answer your question.
For instance, more people attend school now in Nigeria; but in terms of quality, written and spoken English, three decades ago, if somebody finished Standard Six in Nigeria, they would write very good English. Now you have people who are leaving university who cannot construct good sentences in English. And they would say more people are now getting tertiary education.
I have my personal standards, but that does not mean it is something that must come across the board. For example, I do not like to use fingers to eat food like eba and amala, and it’s not a matter of being posh. I just don’t want the thing to get stuck in my fingers because I keep long nails.
Professionalism is what I like to measure against world class standard. That is in terms of delivery, turn-around time and ability to solve problems. It doesn’t mean that the materials that come from the UK are necessarily the material that would fly here. But we can meet some certain basic standards.

What is the industry’s position at the confab?
For now, what we are trying to do is let the government understand the need to use marketing communication services to market Nigeria for greater development, and that starts by using the mixture of both professionals and those who work in communication mix to come together and reposition Nigeria. Without it, there is nothing we would do.
Whatever the government comes out with, I still believe it is critical to have an organ of government that has established marketing communication. For instance, every embassy should be a marketing outlet for Nigeria, and we must also have a unified structure there. Even our orientation campaign should be internally generated.
So there is a lot of work to be done, but professionally. Let’s borrow a leaf from what the multinationals do when they are launching a new product, they see it as a business which must bring in returns. Why can’t we see Nigeria as a business, and do everything to re-position it so that it can bring in the much-needed returns?

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Yahaya Bello paid $845,852 in advance for his children’s school fees – Witness

Published

2 days ago

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March 7, 2025

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An official from the American International School, Abuja, on Wednesday testified in the Federal High Court in a case of money laundering involving former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.

 

The official revealed that the former governor paid a total of $1,606,763.68 in school fees for his children.

 

Nicholas Ojehomon, an auditor at the school, gave this testimony during the ongoing trial, where he appeared as a prosecution witness for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Ojehomon confirmed that the payments covered Bello’s children’s tuition fees up until their graduation, with part of the amount paid upfront for future school fees.

 

Bello is facing a fraud charge amounting to N80.2 billion filed by the EFCC. During the trial, the prosecution presented financial records, including detailed statements from the school, showing payments made on behalf of Bello’s children.

 

In earlier testimony, Williams Abimbola, a compliance officer at United Bank for Africa (UBA), had submitted documents showing transactions related to the school fees. The EFCC had previously alleged that just before leaving office, Bello paid $760,000 as an advance for his children’s school fees, which was later refunded following an investigation.

 

On Thursday, Ojehomon testified that Bello’s brother, Ali Bello, facilitated the school fee payments. He explained, “Mr. Ali Bello contacted the American International School, Abuja, on Friday, August 13, to arrange payment for the school fees of the Bello children until they graduate. The school management accepted the payment.”

 

 

Ojehomon confirmed that the payments were made for four of Bello’s children, enrolled in Grades 8, 6, 4, and 2, and also included fees for future children who were expected to start in August 2022, assuming space was available.

 

The amounts paid for each child included: $90,074 for the child in Grade 8, $87,470 for the child in Grade 6, $26,241 for the child in Grade 4, and $18,707 for the child in Grade 2.

 

The witness also identified a contractual agreement between the school and Ali Bello, detailing the prepayment arrangement.

 

 

EFCC counsel Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) presented the school’s admission and prepaid tuition documents as evidence. Ojehomon further testified that a refund of $760,910.84 was made to the EFCC, confirming that the refund was transferred to an account at the Central Bank of Nigeria.

 

The court also heard from Williams, the UBA witness, who submitted additional financial documents related to accounts managed under Bello’s administration. She testified that multiple withdrawals were made through cheques from the Kogi State Government House account, often broken into tranches of N10 million, with funds primarily issued to two individuals, Abdulsalam Hudu and Aminu J.O.

 

Williams confirmed that, on December 12, 2018, ten transactions of N10 million each were processed in favor of Abdulsalam Hudu. Key signatories to the account were also named, including Christopher Enefola (Permanent Secretary), Onekutu Daniel (Chief Accountant), and Abdulsalam Hudu (Accountant).

 

 

However, under cross-examination, Williams admitted that Yahaya Bello’s name did not appear in any of the transactions related to the Kogi Government House account. Defense counsel, Daudu, noted that Bello’s name was absent from the documents presented, to which Williams confirmed it was not listed. She further clarified that she was not the account officer in charge of the Kogi Government House account, which was managed from Lokoja, Kogi State, rather than her branch in Area 3, Abuja.

 

Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the trial to Friday, March 6, for further proceedings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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VICE PRESIDENT SHETTIMA TO ATTEND NACC 65TH ANNIVERSARY GALA IN LAGOS

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3 days ago

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March 6, 2025

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The Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce (NACC) is set to celebrate its 65th anniversary with a grand gala dinner, featuring His Excellency, Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, as the Special Guest of Honour.

 

The prestigious event will take place on April 12, 2025, at Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, with the red carpet reception commencing at 5:00 PM.

 

The highlight of the evening will be the inauguration of Alhaji Sheriff Balogun as the 20th President of NACC.

 

Alhaji Balogun will also unveil his leadership team, while outlining strategic initiatives to strengthen bilateral trade relations between Nigeria and the United States.

 

As part of the evening’s programme, 40 new members will be inducted into the chamber, and the NACC multi-storey building project will be officially launched.

 

The gala will also honour outstanding Nigerian and American companies and distinguished individuals, including past presidents of the chamber, for their contributions to economic growth and trade relations.

 

The President of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), Mr. Samaila Zubairu, will chair the event.

 

Dignitaries confirmed to attend include Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State, Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Founder and Chairman of Elizade Group, Chief Michael Ade-Ojo and Chairman of Odu’a Group, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru.

 

Others are Founder of Afe Babalola University, Aare Afe Babalola, Chairperson of Brittania-U Nigeria Limited, Catherine Uju Ifejika, Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and Chairman of Zinox Technologies Limited, Leo Stan Ekeh.

 

His Excellency, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, will serve as the Chief Host of the occasion.

 

For 65 years, the Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce has been at the forefront of fostering bilateral trade relations between Nigeria and the United States, serving as the premier platform for business growth, networking, and investment opportunities.

 

The Chair of the Planning Committee, Dr.Ikenna Nwosu, says all the guests will be treated to one of the grandest anniversary galas ever experienced in the country.

 

 

*VICTOR OJELABI*

Senior PR Associate

Neo Media & Marketing | Chair, Publicity Committee, NACC Presidential Inauguration Dinner & Awards Night

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NAFDAC reopens Onitsha market, confiscates over 50 trailers of fake drugs

Published

3 days ago

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March 6, 2025

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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has finally announced the reopening of the Onitsha Drug Market and other adjoining markets after nearly one month of closure.

The South-East Zonal Director of the agency, Mr Martins Iluyomade, revealed this on Thursday after a meeting between officials of the agency, the Anambra State government, and market union leaders. He stated that business will officially resume in the markets on Friday.

Other markets, including the plumbing materials market, timber market, surgical materials market, and science laboratory materials market, among others, were affected early last month when the agency shut them down in its fight against illicit drugs.

Iluyomade, who addressed government officials and market leaders before announcing the reopening, said:

“What is happening here goes beyond only Ogbogwu (drug) market; it extends to other markets around this area, and that was why we took the steps we did by closing down everywhere.

“I know there was a lot of apprehension, and people were asking why we locked other markets that had nothing to do with drugs. It seemed as if we were out to punish those who had no involvement. We did not respond because we did not want to join issues, but we found drugs in all the markets we closed.

“What we found in other adjoining markets was just as much as what we found in Ogbogwu market. We did what we did because, if we hadn’t, we wouldn’t have covered the ground we were able to cover.

“We were here last year for an operation, but our men were beaten, and even an officer of the Federal Republic was stripped naked for doing his legitimate duty. We had to lock up everywhere because, if we hadn’t, there would have been collateral damage. This is a major drug market, and if something goes wrong here, drug supplies all over the country will be contaminated.

“We know that since the Federal Government was determined to sanitize this market, if there had been any attack on us, our security men would have reacted, and the damage would have been high. We thank Governor Soludo for his visit. When he heard what we did here, he called to express concern about the welfare of his people, and when we explained to him, he backed the effort to sanitize the market. He later visited us and reiterated the same support as long as what we were doing was right.

“People were already bringing ethnic coloration into it, but I thank the governor for not listening to them. In fact, the governor said there was a need for us to save ourselves because fake drugs kill indiscriminately, regardless of ethnicity.

“The DG of NAFDAC took this assignment as if her life depended on it, and every day she kept calling to know the state of operations. NAFDAC has also committed a lot of resources to this, and she has made a commitment to ensuring that fake drugs are exterminated in Nigeria.”

Speaking on the agency’s findings in the markets, the Zonal Director said:

“It is saddening to see that we have people among us whose only way of making money is by destabilizing the country and killing people.

“We have confiscated over 50 trailers of fake and substandard drugs. Many are still in warehouses in town, and we are coming after them. The volume of narcotics we saw here is enough to destabilize any nation. There is a link between the circulation of narcotics and insecurity. Check any country experiencing insecurity and a breakdown of law and order, and you will see that narcotics are in high supply.

“The number of narcotics we have found here is alarming. The people dealing in them know the effects, but they continue because the sale of narcotics is said to be more lucrative than cocaine.

“We have also seen people who deliberately import substandard and fake drugs. Some import tablets in nylon bags with no labels, then bring them here, repackage them, and put labels on them for sale. We saw a lot of it. We also found medicines that had been banned as far back as 2007, yet people are still stocking them.

“Many of these drugs were banned because they cause cancer, and new replacements were produced, but people still stock them. That is wickedness. Another category is unregistered drugs. These medicines are usually displayed in small quantities on counters, but large caches of them are stored in warehouses outside the market.”

Iluyomade noted that even some genuine drugs are stored in ways that cause them to lose their efficacy and become harmful long before their expiration date.

“Drug storage is also a problem. There is no ventilation in any of the storage facilities we visited. Medicines are supposed to be kept under specific conditions to maintain their effectiveness. Medicines are chemicals, and even those selling registered original medicines have had them expire long before their expiry dates.

“All the storage facilities are packed to the brim, locked with the biggest padlocks, and left without ventilation. We found a drug for women in labor stored in the plumbing materials market. The warehouse was full and hot, yet the drug’s packaging specified that it should be stored between 2-8 degrees centigrade. But someone stored it in an oven-like environment. So when people say, ‘What about those of us selling good medicine?’ we just laugh. What good medicine are you selling?

“We must take our healthcare delivery seriously, and that is what NAFDAC is doing. As an agency, we are not out to make life difficult for you, but we are working with the mandate given to us.

“We have pasted notices on some shops, and those who find them must know they have been invited and must report to our office. The markets will be reopened tomorrow. We have met with your union leaders, and they must ensure they report any suspicious activity to us.

“If this happens again, we will still close the market. Also, we will not tolerate any attack on our officials. If it happens again, we will shut down the market.”

Iluyomade stated that although the market will reopen on Friday, about 4,000 shops will remain locked until their owners explain certain drugs found inside.

Market union leaders expressed happiness about the reopening of the markets and pledged to work with the agency to identify traders who continue to deal in illegal drugs.

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