Dr. BolaJoko Bayo-Ajayi Installed as NIMN’s First Female President

By Azeez Disu

The National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN) hosted a landmark investiture and fellowship induction ceremony recently, celebrating the formal installation of its first female President, Dr. Bolajoko Bayo-Ajayi. The historic event, held at the prestigious Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, brought together industry stakeholders under the theme: “Leadership, Trust, and Brand Sustainability”.

The investiture marked a monumental transition, signifying the formal handover of the mantle of leadership and embodying hope and a renewed commitment to the institution’s objectives.

In her welcome address, the Registrar of NIMN, Mrs. Thelma Okoh, expressed the profound significance of the occasion:
“Today is a day of monumental significance for our institution, marking both a new beginning and a celebration of collective excellence.” She added that “We are confident that under the President’s guidance, our institution will reach new and unprecedented heights.”

The event’s critical theme was explored by the esteemed keynote speaker, Mrs. Ibukun Awosika, a globally respected business leader, who argued that trust must originate at the top. She emphasised that the first vehicle for trust in any brand is its people, and the biggest vehicle is its leadership.

Mrs. Awosika delivered a powerful message on personal responsibility and value: “The question is for people to trust your product and to trust your brand, they have to trust you as a leader”. “Our character, our integrity, the way we show up and our words be taken seriously and it be trusted”. “The first thing that convinces you to make the commitment to release large sums of money for a project into our hands will be trust of it’s not the product that you speak to, it’s the humans behind it”. She concluded that even in moments of crisis, “integrity and character is the biggest asset that you will have”.

The immediate past President, Mr. Idorenyen Enang, had the distinct privilege of decorating Dr. Bayo-Ajayi. He spoke passionately about her journey, grit, and tenacity:

“It is indeed a privilege and an honour for me to decorate a woman of substance, to decorate a woman that carries a bastion of intelligence that comes through a journey of grit, of courage, of tenacity”. Celebrating the new wave of female leadership within the institute, he added, “Once you want productivity to happen, hand it over to your woman and you’ll have the best of the best of the best”.
The NIMN anticipates that under Dr. BolaJoko Bayo-Ajayi’s guidance, the institution will reach “new and unprecedented heights”.

In her acceptance speech, the new President said she is committed to upholding high ethics and standards in marketing during her tenure, urging all to support her administration. “The train is moving, and no one should be left behind,” she stated.

The investiture drew goodwill messages from top regulatory and professional bodies, reinforcing the imperative for inter-professional collaboration across Nigeria’s creative economy.

Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, Director-General of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), celebrated the historic nature of the occasion and noted Dr. Bayo-Ajayi’s immediate impact: “I want to congratulate Madam President, the first female president of NIMN.She had already hit the ground running since she was elected.”.

He assured NIMN of ongoing collaboration between the two bodies in the area of capacity building and emphasised the importance of ensuring competent practitioners in the industry.

Emphasising that the celebration was rooted in competence rather than gender, Dr. Ike Neliaku, National President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), offered high praise: “I’m not celebrating Madam President because she’s a woman. I’m celebrating her because she’s competent. I’m celebrating her because she’s mature. I am celebrating her because she has merit”.

Tolulope Medebem, President of the Experiential Marketers Association of Nigeria (EXMAN), echoed this focus on merit and collaboration, asserting that she takes comfort in the fact that Dr. Bayo-Ajayi’s position is not “because they are feeling a quarter but because they are well deserving of this”.

Medebem stressed the importance of unity in advancing the sector: “One of the most important imperatives of our time now is collaboration. The future of our industry cannot be built in silos. Professional bodies must work together to raise standards, develop talent and speak with a unified voice on issues that affect our ecosystem”. She assured the new NIMN leadership, “I want to assure you that EXMAN stands ready as a collaborative partner to support the industry, your advocacy, capacity building and initiatives that advance the marketing profession and Nigeria’s creative economy”.

The ceremony’s second major component involved the proud induction of an exceptional cohort of new Fellows. The Fellowship is the highest honour conferred by the institute, serving as a powerful recognition of “outstanding commitment, remarkable achievement, and significant contributions to the Institute”.

Speaking on the conferment of Fellowships to some marketing professionals, Mrs. Thelma Okoh disclosed that “These individuals have demonstrated outstanding commitment, remarkable achievement, and significant contributions to the Institute. The Fellowship is the highest honour our institution can bestow, and it is a powerful recognition of their dedication to upholding the highest standards of professional excellence.”

Among the distinguished individuals elevated to this prestigious status were Sandra Sundayba Amachree,
Toluolpe Olanipekun, Roseline Akure Abaraonye and Dr. Adelusi Olufemi Akinwunmi.

Others are Sunday Adeolu Fasipe , Tonye Preghafi, Dr. Kelvin Enokie Bribena
Mfon Bassey, Taiwo Akinola, Hon. Ebizi Rosemary Ndiomu C. Brown, Jolaoso Gbenga Victor, Willie Etim Willie, Dr. Emmanuel Ifeanyi Anyanwu, Ayo Omodara Olugbenga, and Obuwaseyifunmi Ebenezer Oyewunmi

The new inducted Fellows also include Seun Oliwo, Ronke Osho, Nasir Mansur Mohammed, Ifeoma Okafor-Obi, Dr. Adatire Michael Okumagba, Taiye Ebun Babatunde,Akporee Idenedo, and Olugbenga Olusola Oriowo.

Their induction served as a testament to professional excellence and dedication to upholding the highest standards of the marketing profession.