Nation
Advertising: Stakeholders Seek Collaboration With Advert Practitioners, Academia
Stakeholders in the Marketing Communications industry have called for more collaborations between the academia and practitioners in an effort to bridge the knowledge gap and sustain the industry for the next generations of practitioners.
According to them, the decision was necessary following the revelation of the huge gap between what is taught in schools and what exists on the field.
The stakeholders said this at the maiden Advertising Industry Colloquium (AIC) organised by the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), in Lagos, recently.
The gathering, which had in attendance professionals from the academia and top industry practitioners, provided a meeting point for all players within the sector to interact and chart a way forward for the good of the advertising profession.
Delivering the keynote paper with the theme, “Changing Trends In Advertising Education and Practice In The Era Of Globalization: The Nigerian Perspective”, the Chief Executive Officer, Corporate Shepherds Ltd, and President of the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN), Idoreyen Enang, underlined the need for stakeholders, especially curriculum developers, to prioritize the fundamental knowledge of marketing to concretise the foundation that other capabilities could be built on to ensure lasting growth and develop the industry.
In his presentation on the sub-theme: “Contemporary Media Campaign planning and Execution in the era of digitisation”, the Dozie Okafor, MD, CEO, PHD Nigeria, and Vice President of MIPAN, Dozie Okafor, stated that there was a new shift from the old ways, stressing the need for all to key into the changes.
He noted that Influencer Marketing was getting a lot bigger than radio OAPs that used to be the trend back in the day, “so investments are shifting into the digital space. But, even how we use those influencers should be better educated by data”.
“Firstly, we need to train a new crop of media professionals, to better arm them, away from what is taught in school, and there are different platforms to achieve that.
“Once you have that foundation you are armed with the principles of how the new digital is working and you need to play with the rules and localize it. You are able to get the training and bring it up to speed”, he said.
Kelechi Nwosu, Managing Director, TBWA/Concept, Kelechi Nwosu, insisted that the colloquium was a good avenue to share knowledge among stakeholders in the industry.
“Knowledge is important, refreshing what we know and learning new things is equally important. This is one of the ways.
This platform establishes that opportunity for us to hear and see how to grow things.
“If you hear ID Enang’s speech which is amazing in terms of the depth of it he says the foundation needs to be correct, which is marketing and a lot of people need to correct that.
“I think that we need to show and provide direction for the new trend. There must be continuous learning from the academics and practitioners”, he added.
Echoing similar sentiments, Tolulope Medebem, COO/Lead Consultant, Aster Integrated Marketing Ltd, what the colloquium platform did was a start.
“There is a lot of unbundling that we need to do, it’s a whole lot and not something we can just do in a day. But, the first step has been taken leading to different interactions as witnessed here today.
“In some places we are doing it, but it has to be done collectively and I think a whole lot of information has been exposed here and you can see the young ones soaking all in. I believe it’s something that will work for all of us”, she noted.
On his part, Steve Babaeko, AAAN President and Chief Executive of X3M Ideals said: “Big shout out to the ARCON DG, for putting it together because honestly, there is a big gap between the academia and the industry and that gap God knows that we need to bridge it, if we don’t it’s not doing the academia any good and doing us even more damage as an industry”.
The Alliance Française Port Harcourt recently hosted a- 4 Day programme in conjunction with the 3rd United Nations Oceans Conference ( UNOC:3) to mark the World Environment Day, 2025.
The Programme which was supported by the Embassy of French in Nigeria was focused on ocean protection and held from 9 to 13 June, 2025 at the premises of the Alliance Franchise.
The Tide News reports that the week long event was inspired by the Educational booklet “Understand Ocean And Act” created by the French Development Agency (AFD),was free and open for all.
The exhibition adapts complex environmental challenges into engaging educational contents for learners of all ages. It also placed special focus on French Language Learners at the beginner level( A1-A2) and school students.
According to the Director of Alliance Française Mrs Marina Lacal, 130 pupils from six schools in Port Harcourt and additional 60 students from local Universities participated in the guided visit and interactive activities.
Schools that took part in the Programme include Cornerstone International school, Vine, International, Greenoak, Gold gate Montessori, Helm Bridge and Virgo Praedicanda International school.
Others are the University of Port Harcourt,(UNIPORT) Rivers State University (RSU)and the Ignatius AJuru University of Education (AUE)
Mrs Lacal further said that through this initiative Alliance Française Harcourt and its partners have reaffirmed their commitment to educating younger generations and promoting global awareness through language, culture and environmental engagement
However, the exhibition witnessed interactive tools such as French-Language game, quizzes, memory challenges, fill-in -the -blanks. It also provides a platform to explore major ocean issues including climate change,biomliversity loss, plastic pollution, sustainable fishing and climate induced migration all through a linguistic and civic lens.
In line with it’s eco conscious approach , all displayed banners used for the exhibition will be recycled into eco friendly souvenirs such as(key chains) that would be given to participants after the event, to further help reinforce the message that every action counts.
It would be recalled that all snacks and drinks provided during the visit were served with low plastic packaging in line with the environmental message of the event.
The Deputy Commandant General of the Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS) Anti- Bunkering Agency, Amb Wachukwu Adah, has expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for signing into law the Nigeria Forest Security Service Bill, describing the gesture as a right step in the right direction. The operatives of the NFSS are known as forest guards.
Amb Adah, who made the commendation during the official structuring of the Nigeria Forest Security Service Anti-Bunkering team and induction of legionnaires in Omoku Town, headquarters of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State on Friday, described President Tinubu as the best President of Nigeria following his monumental achievements in office.
He said the Local Government Autonomy Bill recently signed into law by the President Tinubu administration has tremendous impacts on the lives of the average Nigerians, especially those at the grassroots level.
He noted that by this singular gesture, the President had hit the ground running, for the meaningful development of the country.
Amb Adah reiterated that Rivers youths would utilise the opportunity to serve the country to the best of their ability, acknowledging their readiness to do the needful by ensuring that the forests across the nation are adequately secured.
The Deputy Commandant General also applauded the transformation of the Federal Capital Territory by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, saying, the Minister has turned Abuja to London.
He, however, appealed to the Minister to assist Rivers youths to get sensitive positions in the new Nigeria Forest Security Service ,saying, there is need for him and other leaders to assist the youths who are interested in jobs at the NFSS to secure them, as it is done elsewhere.
“ We need your backing on securing the jobs at NFSS”, he said.
Amb.Adah, who represented the National Commandant, Amb Joshua Osatimehia, said the youths are fully ready to contribute to the security, progress and growth of the nation, and emphasised the essence of character, professionalism and quality service delivery at the NFSS.
In his address, the Administrator of Ogba/ Egbema/ Ndoni Local Government Council, Dr Ndu Ajie assured the security outfit of the total support of the council.
Dr Ajie, who was represented by the Secretary of the council ,Mr.Onyedibia Ndulaka, praised the determination and sacrifices made by the security operatives in ensuring and fostering the peace and security of the State.
On their part, heads of security agencies in the local government area, including the Joint Task Force(JTF); the Police; the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC); and the Federal Road Safety Corps(FRSC), commended the efforts of the security outfit in the security of national assets, assuring them of collaboration to achieve common goals.
During the event, the 23 LGA commanders and other ranking officers were commissioned.
Recall that President Tinubu had commissioned the Nigerian Police, the Department of State Services (DSS) and a committee to work out modalities on the operations of the NFSS.
The former State Commander of NFSS, Chief Will Wegwu showered encomiums on the Deputy Commandant General for his sacrifices and untiring efforts to keep the flag flying.
Chief Wegwu assured the participants that the officers and men would continue to support the Deputy Commandant General to succeed in his assignment.
The Omoku Police Area Commander, ACP Mahe Mohammed; and the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Omoku Police Division, CSP John Landan, were among a host of other security chiefs and personalities that graced the occasion.
Rivers-born business mogul, Chief Clement Anele, has pledged his determination to partner with student groups and other relevant bodies, to reach the unreached and the vulnerable in the society.
Chief Anele, who gave this indication while receiving an Award of Education Ambassador from the Rivers State Postgraduate Students Association in his office in Port Harcourt, said he has a covenant with God to give succour to the needy, especially widows, ,students, clerics and the vulnerable in the society.
Chief Anele ,the Managing Director of Anele Good Heart Foundation,
vowed to continue to partner with student groups and other relevant bodies to reach the unreached, and the vulnerable by providing basic necessities of life to them.
He said, “I cannot be everywhere. I need to partner with students to reach the unreached in the society. The sole aim is to improve the living standard of the vulnerable among us .
It is important we touch lives through the little resources God has made available to us .We don’t expect reward from human beings, but from God.
I feel happy and joyful seeing widows, students and the less- privileged benefiting from the foundation .It was a dream God gave me to assist making the society better. I don’t need anyone to praise me for doing it .It is a divine calling to put smiles on the faces of the vulnerable.”
In his speech, the Secretary of the group, Mr Ken Itari, described Chief Anele as an extraordinary individual, who has impacted on humanity, especially the students and widows through his foundation.
He said the honour done to the business mogul by the students was borne out of their desire to partner with him to build a better future for the youths.
He said the students would continue to stand with the philanthropist in his vision to reduce hunger and change the society for the good of all.
He noted that Chief Anele’s scholarships to the students and providing food on the tables of the widows and many vulnerable persons, using his hard-earned resources, show his immense love for humanity, stressing that his reward for the good works he is doing can only come from God.