Battle for AAAN Top Job Shifts to Ogun State

Daily Independent (Lagos)

Goddie Ofose

26 June 2011

The contest for who to succeed the managing director/chief executive officer of Bates Cosse and incumbent president of Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN), Mr. Funmi Onabolu has been shifted to Equity Resort Hotel, (formerly Gateway Hotel,) Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State the venue for the 38th annual general meeting/congress from July 7-9, 2011.

One of the major highlights of the AGM will be the election of new executives to steer the ship of the Association for the next 12 months.

This is subsequent upon the expiration of the tenure of the incumbent executive committee led by Onabolu as President. The outgoing EXCO was elected at the 36th AGM/Congress election two years ago in Enugu State.

Unlike the previous congresses that have always been a stroll in the park; the July gathering would be keenly contested amongst the top three industry personalities that have not tasted the body highest position.

Contenders for the post of the President are Mr. Longley Evru the incumbent Vice President and Chief Executive of Angels Communications, Mr. Rufai Ladipo, an Ex-Officio and the Chief Executive of STB-McCann Lagos and Mr. Erhabor Emokpae, Executive Vice Chairman, Lowe Lintas.

Until now, the pendulum has always swung in favour of Evru however, Ladipo’s and Emokpae’s interests have altered the calculation, which industry watchers say Ladipo is likely to emerge new president.

Daily Independent investigations also reveal that the STB McCann boss is favoured amongst the top industry practitioners while Evru who receives sympathy of younger ad men practitioners is touted as the best man for the job having rose through the ranks the become the first vice president.

Emokpae, who had contested for the post in the past, is claiming to be the best candidate that can move the industry forward. All his contemporaries in the mould of Enyi Odigbo,(DDB, Lagos) Kola Ayanwale (CentrespreadFCB) and Funmi Onabolu (Bates Cosse) have tasted the highest seat of the body but him.

It is also gather that the board members of AAAN have thrown their weight behind Ladipo, who has been a quiet but effective member of the exco while Evru, who relied on traditional way of succession to clinch the post is so disappointment with development having served the body judiciously in many capacity in the last 10 years.

Apart from the election of new executive officers being the high point of the 38th AGM, the event is themed “Globalising Nigerian Advertising; Prospects and Challenges” where professional advertising practitioners and other industry stakeholders will engage the platform of the AAAN 38th AGM./Congress for a robust intellectual and practical discourse on Nigerian creativity in the global marketing communications business. It will also afford delegates and participants the opportunity to evaluate the creative ingenuity of Nigerian advertising agencies and their contributions to creativity in advertising globally.

The AAAN’s forthcoming 38th AGM/Congress will also celebrate two distinguished senior practitioners namely Senator Akin Odunsi, a former President of the Association and the Chairman, Rosabel Leo Burnett Advertising and Senator Solomon Ewuga, Chairman, Adpure Advertising Limited who were recently elected distinguished senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Mrs. Bola Adewoye, Corporate Affairs Executive of AAAN disclosed that new members of the Association, Culture Communications Limited and Marketstrides Communications Limited will be inducted and given certificates of membership during the Gala Nite of the 38th AGM/Congress.

It would be recalled that Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN), Newspapers Proprietor Association of Nigeria (NPAN) and Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), advertising regulatory body have effected leadership change in the last eight months. Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN) would be joining others electing new officers on June 30, 2011.

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