The inability of govern
ment at all levels in Nigeria to carry along professional marketers in their programmes has been identified as one of the major problems responsible for poor implementation of policies.
The President, National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN), Mr Tony Agenmonmen, stated this at the 1st Annual Rivers State University Marketing Academic Conference, held in Port Harcourt.
Agenmonmen said, in spite of the fact that marketing is the hub of economic activities, it is being relegated in the formulation, and execution of most important and strategic public policies and advised those in authority to always consult professional marketers adequately in their programmes for the desired change, promising that NIMN is ready for any collaboration that would take the national economy to the next level.
He particularly called on the Nigerian Export Promotions to carry along professional marketers, stressing that only professional marketers can identify better opportunities and make inputs that can stimulate trade and economic activities.
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Blessing Didia, in his address while declaring the Two-Day event open said the theme of the event, “Re-inventing the Wheel of Nigeria’s Economic Growth Through Marketing: Where Are We Now?” is very apt in view of the state of the nation’s economy.
The Vice Chancellor who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Boma Oruwari, said marketing is very important in production since products and services remain where they are until they are marketed.
He stressed the need for emphasis to be laid on production in the country for the nation to get out of its recession.
The Conference Chair/Head Department of Marketing, Dr Gladson Nwokah, said the  conference was born out of the desire to profer solution to the recession challenging the economy of the nation.
He said since the new dispensation particularly from 2015, the nation has been having economic meltdown, financial scarcity, with dollar exchange rate higher increasing poverty rate, “so we in marketing felt we should see how we can go about it to mitigate the situation”.
The Head of Department expressed worry that in spite of the fact that the African Continent is the second largest in the World, Africa is least in internet usage.
Nwokah however, remarked that Nigeria is growing in internet and social media usage but stressed the need for them to use the social media in marketing good ideas and products, instead of social jokes.
The Head of Department explained that universities from both Nigerian and foreign counties attended the media edition of the conference with about 35 high quality researched papers in various aspects of marketing were presented.

Chris Oluoh