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Peace Finally Returns to NIMN
[July 28, 2014]

Peace Finally Returns to NIMN


(AllAfrica Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) The rift that seemed to have polarized the marketing professional body, National Institute Of Marketing of Nigeria, NIMN into factions over the years appears to have settled as both sides recently came together for unification, writes our correspondent, Olamide Bakare. Genesis of the crisis Prior to the coming of Lugard Aimiuwu who was the immediate past president, the institute had been battling with the issue of recognition.



It would be recalled that the Gbede- led Nigeria marketing Association,NIMARK alongside Fagbemi- led Chartered Institute of marketing of Nigeria,CIMN had approached the National assembly differently with the aim of ensuring that the body was governed by an Act.

Though the two groups made their intention known to get recognition, it was never to be as the National assembly refused to grant either of them recognition.


But the intervention of Aimuuwu ended the dispute as both parties agreed to a percentage share on the council board.

But it was not too long when crack began to surface with the Gbede led party complaining about the way and manner the erstwhile helmsman was running the institute.

However, the straw that broke the camel's back was the refusal of Aimuwu to step down to allow for the conduct of a new election that would usher in a new executive deepened the crack.

Aside these, there were some other stakeholders who were also not happy with the way the association was issuing its certificates to some people without adequate approval saying most of them did not follow due process.

Return of Peace: With the coming together of the two warring parties of the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN), it is clear both factions have reached a compromise to work together in the best interest of the group.

However, the leadership of the professional body has assured that it was on course in its task of re-building marketing profession in the country.

Making these remarks at the unification and signing of the Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) between the Rotimi Adeyeye-led and the Ganiyu Koledoye-led factions of NIMN in Lagos, the President and Chairman of Council of NIMN, Mr Ganiyu Koledoye, said the coming together of the two warring parties would go a long way in fast-tracking the repositioning exercise the council of the professional body had embarked upon in the past few months.

While commending the various stakeholders for making the peace efforts a success, the NIMN boss assured that the institute had evolved a way of managing its affairs to avoid future conflict.

"Let me express my sincere thanks to the elders in the profession who have made this peace move a success. I wish to assure everybody here today that never again should we allow ourselves to be made mockery of.

"There is no professional body that does not experience conflicts, but I think ours is like this because we do not really know how to manage our affairs, especially our disagreements.

"We've allowed faulty thinking to get the better of us. But as from today, I wish to assure that we have all agreed to come together and forget our differences in the interest of the profession," he stated.

Since taking over last year, the NIMN president had embarked on the move towards bringing back to the institute's fold disgruntled members that left the two parties, headed by Rotimi Adeyeye (NIMN Gold Card) and Ganiyu Koledoye (NIMN), who were joined by other stakeholders to sign the unification and MoU expressed satisfaction at the outcome, stating their age long desire to come together as one body that would propagate the values of the institute.

Speaking at the event, President of the institute, Ganiyu Koledoye, while appreciating the efforts and support of the stakeholders of councils and fellow members, stated that the unification would serve "as a solidarity institute devoid of mockery." "This MoU will bind us together as one body and never again will there be any faction or factions that will allow the institute to ridicule.

Institute to form their own council some years ago: Commenting on the reason for the crack, president of the institute, Koledoye attributed the infighting among members to lawlessness saying that henceforth he will ensure members adhere to code and conduct guiding its operation as an institute.

On his part, Mr. Rotimi adeyeye who led his team to broker a truce with Koledoye said it was a good decision to have come together noting that the sacrifice was a worthwhile venture urging everyone to pull their resources together in the overall interest of the institute.

Asked to comment on the fate of the graduates which passed through its rank, Rotimi said the MoU which had just been signed had already taken adequate care of that saying that all its graduate are now fully integrated and enjoyed similar recognition which NIMN offers.

Commenting on what would be his new role now that both factions had fused together, Rotimi disclosed that he remain committted to the actualization of the institute's objective adding that his position and other from his group will have positions ironed out as soon new council is constituted.

The unification ceremony witnerssed marketing personalities and titans, some of whom include past presidents such as Dr.Dan Ayozie, Gbadegesin Gbede Alade Abdulahhi and members of the reconciliation team Are we seeing beginning of the end of affiliation: As Starcom Media part ways with Publicis Group the management of Starcom Media, has announced its plan to sever its relationship with its affiliate body, Publicis Group beginning from 3rd, August ,2014.

This announcement was contained in an advertorial published in some major dailies to officially inform all its stakeholders.

According to the advertorial, the media planning and buying company will cease to be part of the Publicis Group effective from next month.

The advertorial further reads" We affirm to all our clients with whom we have shared ethos, media partners and other key stakeholders that the industry leadership, professionalism and high level integrity thjat have been our essence for over a decade remain our DNA".

Reminding its stakeholders of its readiness to deliver the same quality of service after discontinuing the relationship, the management noted that "we have got same talents, better insights and are digitally charged to continue to deliver best in class experience planning to our clients and prospects Firm Introduces Indigenous Doll.

As part of efforts at promoting girl-child education, tourism and national unity, Auldon Limited has unveiled the Unity Girl Doll.

The doll is a 14-inch tall doll beautifully dressed in local attire which features the three major Nigeria tribes with multi-cultural personalities and a story to share.

According to the firm which trades its toys with the brand name, Auldon Toys, the project is designed to be more than just a commercial venture as part of sales proceeds that will be set aside for a reputable foundation to manage and impact the necessary societal value beneficial to the Nigerian girl child education.

The doll which is a wholly Nigerian concept developed to attune children to Nigeria's rich culture, history and tourist destinations has unique values targeted at instilling community development initiative in the minds of young girls.

Speaking on the doll, the Chief Executive Officer of Auldon Limited, Paul Orajiaka stated that this line of multicultural dolls with deep Nigeria root would help change the girl child fascination with white coloured dolls which have no semblance of the beautiful African skin, look or cultural representation.

He said" In designing Unity Girl, we carefully took the doll out of the unrealistic physique of some very popular brands and its likes that in reality only teaches the girl how to manipulate an image of herself outside of herself. The Unity Girl ultimately has the power to infiltrate the child consciousness and educate the child about how to act, relate and sustain learned values".

He added "Our model is based on the idea of harnessing the power of buyers who want to do good with their purchases. We want to portray Unity Girl as far more than a doll. It will have a brand identity, a brand that will represent the social concern of the challenges with the girl child education and their welfare in Nigeria and the world at large,".

On the reason for the special interest on the child education, Orajiaka said this was due to the fact that 40 per cent of Nigerian children aged 6-11 do not attend any primary school, with the Northern region recording the lowest school attendance rate in the country, particularly for girls' education where the gender gap remains particularly wide and the proportion of girls to boys in school ranges from 1 girl to 2 boys to 1 to 3 in some States.

In total it is estimated that about 4.7 million children of primary school age are still not in school.

Unity Girl doll project hopes to support the child friendly school concept, which UNICEF is advocating for.

On why Auldon Limited has decided to embark on this social impacting venture, Orajiaka stated that we believe as a company we are blessed and by extension, we can be a blessing to thousands of Nigerian children through empowerment via this initiative. This initiative, though as audacious as it may appear, our passion and drive as a company take corporate social responsibility serious will see it through and deliver on its promises.

Copyright Daily Independent. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).

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