Sanwo-Olu becomes outstanding political brand icon

Lagos State governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has been honoured as the Outstanding Political Brand Icon of the Year by Veterans in the Brands and Advertising industry, in recognition of his exceptional leadership ability and managerial excellence he usually brings to bear in turning around challenging crisis to opportunities. 

Sanwo-Olu was conferred with the prestigious prize Friday night at the 8th Marketing Stakeholders’ Summit held at D’Podium International Event Centre in Ikeja, where industry practitioners across the country gathered to celebrate him. 

The event, themed: “Rethinking the Blue Ocean Strategy in Uncertain Times,” was organised by Marketing EDGE, a brand-focused magazine, who further said the honour was also in recognition of Governor Sanwo-Olu’s administration’s efforts to always have emotional connection with the electorates who, from the brand and marketing perspective were the target audience. 

Sanwo-Olu, while speaking at the event, attended by members of the State’s Executive Council and All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, led by the party’s chairman in Lagos, Hon. Tunde Balogun, pledged his commitment to the growth of the profession by sustaining the state’s investment in requisite infrastructure that would create a resilient economy and city in which the Brand and Advertising industry would thrive. 

The governor acknowledged the transformation recorded in the industry, which, he said, had been occasioned by injection of funds into the creative sector to support the growth of local advertisers. 

According to him, the outcome of such efforts has ended the period when practitioners needed to fly to Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg in South Africa before shooting good television commercials for their clients. 

“Today is for celebrating ourselves, our craft and achievements as marketing communications professionals. Over the last five decades, the marketing communications profession has evolved remarkably to become a window for the world to see the creativity that resides within us. 

“The story has continued to change with improvement and global visibility. Let me assure you, it can only get better from here. The infrastructure we are creating are gradually giving you the scenic settings you require for great Television Commercials that can earn more prestigious laurels from across the world,” he said.

Sanwo-Olu said his administration was not unaware of the greater impact which a flourishing creative sector and advanced technology would have on the growth of brands, stressing that his government was currently supporting thousands of youths in the creative sector in order to boost capacity and knowledge. 

He assured that 3,000 metro fibre optics being rolled out across the state would also boost quality of the output in the Brand and Marketing industry once the fast Internet infrastructure was launched, adding that these were demonstration of his administration being part of the marketing and marketing communications family and its commitment to the continued growth.

“All of these are to let you know that my administration is a part of the marketing and marketing communications family. I know the importance of the industry and I am committed to its continued growth. That is the reason we are building a resilient and livable city that you and your clients will someday be proud of,” the governor said. 

Sanwo-Olu said Lagos had benefited immensely from the ingenuity and knowledge of brand and advertising practitioners, recalling some of the strategic counsel he received from industry professionals during the trying days of his administration. 

The governor, therefore, expressed his gratitude to the industry practitioners for founding him worthy of the honour, promising to always rely on the expertise in the industry to achieve his goals as the Chief Marketing Officer of Lagos State. 

Publisher of Marketing EDGE, Mr. John Ajayi, in his earlier remark, said the summit had evolved over the years to become a brand on its own, adding that those honoured at the event were assessed and confirmed to be change agents promoting future-fit businesses in the age of new normal.

YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

We Have Not Had Water Supply In Months ― Abeokuta Residents

In spite of the huge investment in the water sector by the government and international organisations, water scarcity has grown to become a perennial nightmare for residents of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. This report x-rays the lives and experiences of residents in getting clean, potable and affordable water amidst the surge of COVID-19 cases in the state…

Selfies, video calls and Chinese documentaries: The things you’ll meet onboard Lagos-Ibadan train

The Lagos-Ibadan railway was inaugurated recently for a full paid operation by the Nigerian Railway Corporation after about a year of free test-run. Our reporter joined the train to and fro Lagos from Ibadan and tells his experience in this report…