…As former APCON Chair, Ufot replaces Omojafor
Abimbola Aluko
The Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN), has announced the appointment of Mr. Udeme Ufot (MFR) as Chairman Board of Trustees. Udeme, a former President of the association and erstwhile Chairman of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) replaces Sir Steve Omojafor, one of the doyens of the industry, who recently bowed out after a successful tenure as BOT Chair. The appointment is subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees and the executive members of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN).
In a statement personally signed by the AAAN President, Steve Babaeko, the association has also welcomed back into the board, Mr. Lolu Akinwunmi, another former President of AAAN and former APCON chairman. The statement further indicated that three other prominent practitioners; Mrs. Omowunmi Owodunni, Mr. Kelechi Nwosu, and Mr. Funmi Onabolu have been appointed into the BOT to bring on board their combined professional experience and expertise of over three decades, cutting across various strata of the marketing communication business.
Babaeko said, “I am pleased to announce that, following the successful tenure of the Board of Trustees led by Sir Steve Omojafor and subsequent ratification by the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) Executive Board, Mr. Udeme Ufot (MFR), has been unanimously chosen by the BOT and EXCO to usher in a new era as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees. With his notable experience as a former President and APCON Chairman, Mr. Ufot has been a steadfast supporter of the Association, and we are confident that his leadership will bring progress and development.
“Additionally, we welcome back Mr. Lolu Akinwunmi to the Board of Trustees. His wise counsel has been instrumental in guiding us over the past years. This marks a historic moment with two past Presidents and APCON Chairman concurrently serving on the board. In a new chapter for the Board of Trustees, we are delighted to welcome Mrs. Omowunmi Owodunni, Mr. Kelechi Nwosu, and Mr. Funmi Onabolu, making their debut contributions.
“Please join me in congratulating them. On behalf of the Executive Board, we extend our warmest welcome and wish them a highly successful tenure,” the statement further stated.
Udeme Ufot
Udeme Ufot holds a BA in Industrial Design from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Certificate in Management from Swedish Institute of Management and Chief Executive Programme of the Lagos Business School (LBS). He worked in Insight Communications from 1984 to 1989 where he left as Deputy Creative Director (Art) to join CASERS in 1989 as Creative Director. Six months later he co-founded SO&U in 1990, now one of Nigeria’s leading marketing communications groups with a strong reputation for professionalism and creativity where he is currently Group Managing Director. At SO&U, Udeme contributes to policy formulation and management.
Udeme has held several executive positions in the Association of Advertising Practitioners of Nigeria (AAPN) including Vice President and President in 1997 and 1999 respectively. He serves as Board Member of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), Nigeria’s leading public/private sector economic Think Tank where he chairs the board communications & media subcommittee. He is also the private sector Co-Chairman of the Policy Commission on Tourism, Hospitality, Entertainment, Creative Industries and Sports, (THECS) of the NESG.
He is a member of the Leadership team of M&C Saatchi Africa, Chairman of the Advisory Board of School of Media & Communication, Pan Atlantic University, Lagos, a past President of the Lagos Business School Alumni Association (LBSAA), past Chairman of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), as well as member of the Board of Special Olympics Nigeria.
Udeme is currently the Board Chair of LEAP Africa, Nigeria’s leading non-profit for development of leadership and entrepreneurial skills amongst youth in Africa and Chairman of the Board of Ibom Icon Hotel and Resort, Uyo, one of Nigeria’s leading conference, golf, and leisure resorts.
In recognition of his services to the nation in the Corporate Sector, he was awarded Member of the Order of the Federal Republic, MFR in 2014 by the Federal Government of Nigeria. He is married to Dorothy Udeme Ufot SAN, and they are parents to Aniekan and Dorothy Jnr.
Lolu Akinwumi
Lolu Akinwumi is the Group CEO, Prima Garnet, Africa, a world-class advertising and marketing communication group. As part of the measures put in place to strengthen the agency, PG at a point entered into affiliation with Ogilvy and Mather agency, headquartered in New York, USA. The advertising industry in Nigeria has received a major boost and professionalism as a result of this partnership, propelling other leading advertising agencies to pick a queue from this kind of strategic partnership, positioning the Prima Garnet Ogilvy as a global brand.
He is a 1980 graduate of the University of Lagos, started his career in 1982 with Lintas where he cut an edge for advertising and creative arts. Having worked with Lintas for six (6) years, he moved to Promoserve Grey as Executive Director, Clients Service & Media and in 1992, ‘Lolu took the bull by the horns to start his own company, Prima Garnet Communications.
Over the years, working with his numerous associates, he has moved the company from a humble beginning to a conglomerate, overseeing a group of companies; Prima Garnet Communications, 141 Worldwide, Media Share, Cutler Ogilvy PR, Lampost Experientials, etc. He is also on the board of Premier Music.
He has attended several professional courses locally and out of Nigeria, amongst which are: the Unilever African Marketing Course; Ogilvy Senior Management Programme (SMP 10), and several local and offshore management programmes and courses in advertising and management.
He commands depth and professionalism in the advertising industry endearing his company to national and multinational clientele like Unilever, Coca Cola, Nestle, Motorola, GSK, First Bank, Airtel, KLM, South African Breweries, Guinness, Mnet/MultiChoice, Shell, etc.
As a result of his passion for transformational change in Nigeria, he was appointed in 2009 by the then Honourable Minister of Information & Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili as Pioneer CEO, Nigerian Rebranding Project Business Support Group (RPBSG) – Office of the Federal Minister of Information & Telecommunications.
He is a Fellow of APCON and the Nigerian Marketing Institute. He is a past President of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) 2007 – 2009. Lolu Akinwunmi has presented many professional papers in marketing, advertising and general management
He was also appointed by President Jonathan on the 27th of September 2010 as the current Chairman of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria, APCON, the Parastatal under the Ministry of Information, charged with the responsibility of supervising and managing the advertising practice in Nigeria in all its ramifications.
Kelechi Nwosu
Kelechukwu Nwosu is the Managing Director and CEO of TBWA\CONCEPT. Kelechi is a Passionate Growth leader; his practice extends from Account management to Account Planning and Strategy.
He was the Agency lead at the launch of MTN in Nigeria in 2001 giving him a vantage view of the role of GSM and technology in rapid transformation of the country. He was also the agency lead at the launch of Virgin Atlantic (2002) and later Virgin Nigeria.
He also guides the teams that are currently providing creative communication support for MTN, Proudly Made in Aba, Old Mutual, Society for Family Health , Africa no filter project, Signal Alliance (IT firm), amongst a few other clients.
He has attended various training programs on Leadership, Marketing and Management in and out of the country as at today.
Kelechi was elected the President Association of Advertising Agency of Nigeria (AAAN) as a result of his passion and commitment to the Advertising industry in Nigeria. He occupied the position until May 2016.
He likes movies and loves to run and read (not at the same time). He also loves well designed Nigerian soups.
Funmi Onabolu
Funmi Onabolu is a restless marketing communications entrepreneur in pioneering mode. He has had over 34 years in marketing communications and management. He was Executive Director/COO Insight GREY for 6 years. Like Ufot and Akinwumi, he was also a past President of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN). A fellow of Advertising Practitioner’s Council of Nigeria (APCON) and Chairman of the Advertising Practitioner’s Disciplinary Council, Onabolu recently served as Chairman, Lagos Advertising & Ideas Festival (LAIF) Creative Awards. He is a member of many professional bodies, including; Institute of Directors (IOD), International Direct Marketing Association, International Special Events Society (ISES), Vice President, Nigeria-Britain Association and Board Member, Laptop 4 Learning Nigeria. He is also a Board Member, BE Africa and Trustee: Culture Conservation of Nigeria and National Association of Tour Operators (NATOP).