L-R: Birgitta Agene,  Oseremen Agenmonmen, Convener, NMA, Tony Agenmonmen; and Edewede Agenmonmen, at the  2nd Edition of the Award held recently in Lagos.

 

 

A marketing Communications expert and former Managing Director/CEO STB-McCann, Sir Steve Omojafor, has charged marketing practitioners to see Artificial Intelligence  (AI) as a tool,  complimenting  their natural intelligence,  rather than treat it as a threat.

 

Omojafor,  who  gave this counsel at this year’s Nigerian Marketing Awards (NMA), held recently in Lagos, noted that though the advent of AI and Internet of Things (IoT), will enable practitioners improve the environment and understand data collection better, as they engage their consumers, it should however be a blend between AI and natural intelligence, for marketers, desirous of achieving results.

 

The former Chairman, Zenith Bank Plc, who was also decorated with the Iconic Brand Award at the event, commended the organisers for coming up with a theme, ‘Elevate, Innovate and Inspire’, that focused on  three survival elements for today’s practitioners.

 

“We need to elevate by ensuring we up our game, as practitioners; innovate  to remain relevant; while at the same time inspire others,” he added.

 

He described the award as one of the most cherished since it indicates that his contributions to the nation’s IMC space are still being recognized long after retirement.

Caption: The Award Convener, Tony Agenmonmen, in the middle; flanked by eminent personalities at the Award, including  popular Nigerian Singer, Daniel Oladapo Oyebanjo, popularly known as D’Banj, (to his immediate right).

 

 

The Award’s Convener, Prince Tony Agenmonmen, described the Award, now in its second edition, as not just a recognition, but a collective triumph of creativity, innovation, and unyielding dedication within the dynamic realm of marketing in Nigeria.

 

According to him, the  theme for this year’s edition, “Elevate, Innovate, Inspire,” encapsulates the very essence of what marketers, should strive to achieve on a daily basis.

 

“It represents a call to action for the marketing industry in Nigeria to rise to new heights, embrace innovation, and inspire future generations of marketers. It is a testament to our collective commitment to reaching new heights, pushing boundaries, and creating lasting impressions that resonate with the hearts and minds of our consumers,” he added.

 

 

Expressing his delight at the wave the Award has continued to make in the nation’s marketing community in the past two years, Agenmonmen disclosed that the organisers, in order to further enhance the Award’s  credibility, have taken it a notch higher by upgrading  its level of accreditation with the UK-based Awards Standard Council.

 

 

“I am happy to report that following a thorough evaluation of our maiden edition, and being satisfied that the Nigerian Marketing Awards, meets international standards, and ticked all the right boxes, our level of accreditation by the UK based Independent Awards Standards Council, has been upgraded to “Advanced”,” he stated.

 

 

Agenmonmen also expressed his appreciation to the Award jury, for its diligence and painstaking efforts at arriving at the winners, while describing the eventual winners as visionaries and game-changers, being celebrated for redefining the ‘contours of marketing excellence’.

 

 

The Chairperson of the Award Jury, Mrs. Iquo Ukoh,  expressed her delight at the increasing interests of stakeholders in the  two- year-old Award.

 

 

“The growing interest in the award has translated into increased responsibility for the award decision council. As the chairperson, I can attest that our responsibility was executed with utmost judgment and integrity,” she stated.

 

 

According to her,  the jury subjected every entry to thorough assessment and fair judgement against the criteria established for each category by the organisers, before arriving at the winners.