A group of former employees of Insight Communications, mentees and friends of the Chairman of the Troyka Group, Dr. Biodun Shobanjo have stated how their chanced encounters with the advertising titan in their different professional journeys had gone a long way in enhancing their career growth.
The group, under the aegis of the Shobie Collective, gave these testimonials at a surprise birthday party it organized, as one of the series of events to mark the 80th birthday anniversary of the advertising czar, in Lagos.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman of Channels Television, Dr. John Momoh stated that Shobanjo’s advice and advert support were vital to the success of the television station since they upheld the station during its ‘challenging formative years’.
“He is someone I will pick his call any time of the day because I know he had picked one or two things while watching Channels television and wants to make some suggestions for improvement, whether it is in programming, presentation or content,” Dr Momoh said.
Former governor of Ogun State, Chief Segun Osoba, sees Shobanjo as a reliable brother and friend, who knows the value of relationships and cultivates it across socio-economic strata.
“He has never failed to attend any of my family events in Nigeria or London for decades now,” Chief Osoba declared.
Chairman, Cosse TTL, Mr Funmi Onabolu, a Shobanjo protégé and former General Manager at Insight Communication and one of the organizers of the event, described his former boss as a friend, father, great motivator and builder of men who has shaped the careers of so many young men and women, doing excellently well in different fields across the globe.
Same sentiment was echoed by Mr Udeme Ufot, Chairman, SO&U Advertising, who started his advertising career at Insight Communication. He attributed his career heights to the training and mentorship he received from Shobanjo during his years at Insight Communication.
Advertising veteran and former Chairman, Zenith Bank, Sir Steve Omojafor, who proposed the toast at the event, described Shobanjo as a builder of champions who brought so much respect to the marketing communication industry in Nigeria.
“You stand tall in your personality, you stand tall in the industry, you stand tall in your contributions to Nigeria and Africa,” he added.
In his response, Shobanjo described himself as ‘the luckiest man on earth’ being alive to listen to all the positive comments about him, describing his 53 years journey in advertising as “very interesting”, while also expressing his delight that he had been able to pass the baton to the younger generation.
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