Mr. Biodun Shobanjo, Head of Troyka Group and founding CEO, Insight Communications was on Friday, October 11, 2013 honoured as the Advertising Man of All Times at the Eko Convention Centre of the Eko Hotels and Suites.
The event began with the red-carpet and cocktail at 5pm. Thereafter, the invited guests proceeded to the hall. After the welcome address by the Editor-in-chief of the Sun Newspapers, Mr. Tony Onyima, it was the turn of the President of AAAN, Mrs. Bunmi Oke to give her brief opening remarks. So set the stage for a memorable evening spiced by the serenade of the Sugar Band and the comic hilarity of Gbenga Adeyinka.
Governors of Oyo and Ogun states, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi, Ogun, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun as well as former Governor of Abia State (and Publisher of The Sun Newspapers), Dr Orji Uzor Kalu were among the distinguished personages who graced the occasion. Also the crème-de-la-crème of the marketing communications and advertising in Nigeria were present which included, Mr. Udeme Ufot, MD, SO& U Saatchi, MD of Prima Garnet and Chairman Of APCON, Mr Lolu Akinwumi, publisher of the Vanguard Newspaper, Mr. Sam Amuka, MD, Compact Communications, Mr. Chudi Oduenyi, President AAAN and MD, 141 Agency, Mrs. Bunmi Oke, Director of Operations, FRCN Lagos, Mr. Ike Okere and a host of other distinguished dignitaries. They duly paid homage to the man dubbed ‘the Vice-chancellor of the University of Advertising’.
The man of the moment, a highly elated Biodun Shobanjo was on hand to receive the award from Governor Amosun in the company of his wife and immediate family. Goodwill messages poured in from various captains of the industry. The invited guests were treated to a buffet dinner, a citation on the recipient’s gargantuan achievements, a documentary on the history of 40 years of advertising in Nigeria and a music interlude. The General Editor Sun Newspapers, Mrs. Funke Egbemode delivered the vote of thanks.
Earlier BRANDPOWER spoke with the Deputy Editor in Chief of the Newspaper, Mr. Femi Adesina who affirmed that Sun Newspaper chose to give this award to Mr. Shobanjo after surveying the advertising landscape of Nigeria, there was no one who had made more lasting and indelible imprint as the award recipient and it was only befitting that he was duly acknowledged. It was also important, he said, that the award was not given posthumously. Mr. Shobanjo is a serial awardee of many honours in the advertising industry. Last year, he also received a special BRANDPOWER Award for Distinction as a Game Changer in the brand management industry.
