At Brand zone’s conference, experts to set agenda on national branding

IN the next few weeks, in the month of October this year to be precise, brand and marketing communications practitioners and notable professionals from other fields, will converge on the city of Lagos, with the sole aim of, again, discussing the vexatious issue of creating a distinct and suitable image that will positively position Nigeria in the minds of its highly-demanding citizens and ever skeptical  international community.

Interestingly, not a few have seen the annual two-day day conference, themed ‘Branding: A Catalyst for Development and Growth,’  and organised by Brandzone, in collaboration with the Centre for Values in Leadership (CVL), founded by Professor Pat Utomi, as a strategic response to the country’s continued quest for an appropriate narrative.

Explaining the desirability of the summit, at this point of the nation’s history, a marketing communications practitioner, Mr Stanley Enang noted that fashioning a narrative that would resonate with Nigerians, irrespective of their religious, political and ethnic leanings would, at this period, go a long way in easing some ‘self-inflicted’ tension in the land.

In its fourth year, the conference is an annual Thought Leadership Series, created by Brandzone Consulting, with this year’s thematic thrusts woven around the need for Nigerians to take ownership of and start promoting more positive narratives around ‘Brand Nigeria’.

Expected to be chaired by Mrs Ibukun Awosika, the chairman of FirstBank of Nigeria, this year’s  national branding conference, according to the organisers, will provide practical insights from some of the country’s most accomplished business leaders, policy makers and entrepreneurs.

Speaking on the conference, Chizor Malize, Managing Partner, Brandzone and Convener Brand Innovation Conference, explained that the conference will stimulate deliberations that will provide a framework for creating appropriate narratives about Nigeria, while also halting the continued interpretation of the country through a limited prism, at the expense of its highly-diversified economy and enterprising population.

“As Nigeria’s most influential industry conference, the annual Brand Innovation Conference is a transformation platform that leverages its extensive network of experienced and accomplished speakers to offer perspectives on and proffers solution to issues of national, economic and social importance,” she stated.

She expressed the hope of the conference kick-starting the journey to creation of positive narratives that will showcase areas of endeavours currently driving positive development and creating growth opportunities for the nation.