The ‘Evening of Tributes’, organised by the Marketing Edge, in Lagos, recently,  was  simply meant to  be a gathering of industry professionals, mostly alumni of  Insight Communications, and friends of  Dr. Biodun Shobanjo,  the Chairman of Troyka Group,  to celebrate him on  his 80^th birthday. But it ended up achieving far more.

 

 

It provided the opportunity for the audience to go down memory lane for a man, believed to have  groomed and nurtured many careers in the space, in the past five decades.

 

 

The Chairman of the event, Engineer Vincent Maduka, whose path with  Shobanjo crossed on the nation’s  broadcast space, decades ago,  described the celebrant as audacious, being the first individual, to leave  broadcasting for the  private sector.

 

 

He attributed Shobanjo’s feats in advertising,  to the  training, garnered as a broadcaster, his resilience and discipline.

 

 

“In those days a lot was invested in the training of  media personnel, and Shobanjo was one of the beneficiaries of such trainings. That was why I was initially shocked when he told me he would be leaving broadcasting for the private sector.

 

 

“But, I believe his experience as a  broadcaster, and some of the trainings received then, actually helped him in his career in the private sector. Those who left broadcasting then were audacious, honest and highly disciplined,” Maduka reminisced.

 

 

The first Director General, Nigerian Television  Authority (NTA), also took time to appeal to the present-day media practitioners, especially broadcasters,  on the need to be professional, ethical and always have the viewing public in  mind, while discharging their duties.

 

 

“While the space has evolved over the years, I, however, still see some contents that do not edify our values.  For instance, there was this advert of a teenager, slapping his father on the wrist for dipping his hand into his food. I think that was disrespectful. It’s not who we are, and such content is capable of misrepresenting us before the outside world,” Maduka stated.

 

 

He also queried the celebration of flamboyant lifestyles on the tube, when it is glaring that a huge chunk of Nigerians are going through serious economic downturn.

 

 

In his remarks, the President of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN), and President, Heads of Advertising Sectoral Group (HASG), Lanre Adisa, extolled the celebrant for his role in promoting knowledge and  capital development,in the industry.

 

 

Adisa, who once worked at M&C Saatchi & Saatchi, one of the ad agencies of the celebrant,  assured on his administration’s commitment to building on the legacies left behind by the celebrant, while he was AAAN President.

 

 

While congratulating the celebrant, the immediate Past President of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN), and the Chief Executive Officer of X3M Ideas, Steve Babaeko, described the celebrant, as a thorough professional, and accomplished entrepreneur.

 

 

Babaeko, who also worked at  M&C Saatchi & Saatchi, however said that contrary to the rule,he had commenced work at the agency, before going through the usual ‘Chairman’s interview’. He described  the celebrant as a professional, ready to give whatever he does his best shot.

 

 

“We try to borrow a leaf from Shobanjo’s stable, in most of the things  we do now at X3M Shobanjo stables,” he added.

 

 

Chief Executive Officer of S.O&U, Udeme Ufot another of the present-day chief executives, who passed through Shobanjo’s Insight Communications, believed the Ijebu-born advertising guru had built enterprises.

 

 

He added that his experience at Insight, and some of the trainings received while there, had helped him in his career growth trajectory.

 

 

“I believe Shobanjo has built enterprises, and I’m one of such enterprises.He sent me for a  four- week training in advertising in Hamburg, and this  changed my life. Since I came back, I became a transformed person,” he added.

 

 

Former Chairman, Zenith Bank and former Group Managing Director STB-MCCANN, Sir Steve Omojafor, stated that though there was competition between industry practitioners then, between 78 and 80, but such competition never affected the relationships existing among practitioners.

 

 

“It was a healthy competition. Surulere was the hub of advertising then, and when we decided to set up our different outfits, there was competition. But, despite that, we still had time to gather in the evening to share ideas over drinks and plates of pepper soup,” he stated.

 

 

The celebrant’s bosom friend, and former senator of the federal Republic of Nigeria, Akin Odunsi, described him as a hardworking and committed communications expert, and a friend, ‘ready to do anything to support a friend’.

 

 

The Convener of the event, Chief John Ajayi, explained that the decision to celebrate the Troyka Group Chairman stemmed from the need to celebrate a professional,  who has been a major source of inspiration  and admiration to the outfit and the marketing communications industry, and promote the brand idea.

 

 

 

“It is therefore not an accident that we have chosen to be very exceptional in celebrating this national and global icon in a very unique way as he ascends the eight floor,” he added.

 

 

Pix Caption:

From left, Publisher, Marketing Edge, John Ajayi; Chairman of the occasion, Vincent Maduka; Senator Akin Odunsi; celebrant, Dr. Biodun Shobanjo; his wife, Joyce Shobanjo; Chairman, Stb McCann, Sir Steve Omajafor during an event organized  to mark the 80th  birthday anniversary  of Dr Shobanjo held in Lagos On Tuesday.  Photo; Sylvester Okoruwa.