Though he is a big man and elder statesman, he prefers the prefix simply Mr. This is because Mr. Biodun Shobanjo is a simple man and a professional to the core. He is an Advertising/PR guru.
He is one of the veterans who redefined that industry. Mr. Biodun Shobanjo is one of Nigeria’s finest marketing communications practitioners.
The big news is that he is going to deliver the City People @ 20 Anniversary Lecture this month in Lagos.
With a career spanning broadcasting at the then Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), now known as Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) and advertising, this gentleman, is reputed to be one of those who changed the face of advertising in Nigeria.
The arrowhead of Insight Communications, Nigeria’s foremost advertising agency, Mr. Shobanjo’s advertising career, spanning over 40 years, started at the then American-owned Grant Advertising, which he joined as an Account Executive Trainee in November 1971.
He rose rapidly to become its Deputy Managing Director in 1976, a position he occupied until December 1979 when he left to co-found Insight Communications in January 1980.
He was the Chief Executive Officer of the company for 25 years, a position from which he stood down at the end of December 2004. He remains the Vice Chairman of the company, offering guidance and advice to Insight’s management and clients.
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He is the Chairman of Troyka Holdings, Nigeria’s largest and most innovative integrated marketing communications group in sub-Saharan Africa, with businesses in marketing communications, resource management and asset protection.
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Some of these companies include Insight Communications, All Seasons Mediacom and Media Perspectives (both Media Independents); Optimum Exposures (Nigeria’s leading out-of-home ad company); The Quadrant Company (a PR Consultancy), Hot Sauce (Digital Marketing); Black Onyx Properties (Real Estate), and Halogen Security (asset protection and resource management).
Mr. Shobanjo holds the Certificate of the British Institute of Public Relations, London as well as the Certificate of the British Institute of Marketing.
He is a chartered member of the British Institute of Public Relations (CMIPR); chartered member of the British Institute of Marketing (CM Inst. M); Member, International Advertising Association; Fellow, Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria; Fellow, Commonwealth Journalists Association and past President, Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (MAN).
A widely travelled man, Mr. Biodun Shobanjo has attended various courses in advertising, marketing and management in many Western European countries, the United States of America and South Africa.
Over the years, Mr. Shobanjo has won numerous awards for professional excellence and integrity, and has been selected at various times by Newswatch, Vanguard, Concord, The Nigerian Tribune, The Sun e.t.c. as one of ‘Nigeria’s Top Business Managers/Mentors’.
In August 1999, he was selected as ‘Advertising Man of the Century’ by Weekend Concord.
In November 2003, Success Digest nominated him as Entrepreneur of the Decade, while The Daily Times of Nigeria & Corporate Effects Communications chose him as one of the ‘100 Heroes of Modern Nigeria’.
In June 2004, Mr. Shobanjo was featured in the Encomium International amongst the ‘100 Nigerians that ever lived’.
In August of the same year, Vanguard Newspaper selected him as one of the Beacons of National Development, while Daily Independent chose him as one of Nigeria’s Top 25 Leaders of Professional Integrity.
He was awarded Brand Marketing Professional of the Year in 2004 by Brandfaces, and in Feb. 2005, Newswatch nominated him to be featured in their 2005 edition of ‘Fifty Notable Leaders In Corporate Nigeria’.
In October 2005, he was selected by Vanguard Media as one of the Architects of Economic Fortunes in Nigeria, while The Financial Standard nominated him among the 50 Drivers of Change in Corporate Nigeria in 2005.
In February 2006, The News honoured him as one of the 30 Most Inspiring Nigerians. In 2007, he was selected to be the CEO of The Apprentice Africa, a TV business reality show that ran from Jan – June 2008.
In March 2008, TheNEWS honoured him with A True Nigerian Icon award for the innovative ideas he brought to advertising in Nigeria, while Financial Standard honoured him as one of the Heroes of the Economy in August, 2008.
In March 2009, The Guardian listed him amongst Nigeria’s Outstanding Role Models, while The News chose him as one of 50 Yoruba men and Women of Integrity.
In May 2009, Newswatch nominated him as one of the 50 Notable Leaders in Corporate Nigeria in 2008 and the first quarter of 2009. In Sept 2009, TheNEWS selected him as one of 30 Nigeria world-class Entrepreneurs, while in March, City People Media Group honoured him with the award of CEO of the Year.
In Sept 2009, TheNEWS selected him as one of 30 Nigeria world-class Entrepreneurs, while in March, City People Media Group honoured him with the award of CEO of the Year.
Recently in October 2010, The Guardian selected him amongst Nigeria’s 20 Outstanding Entrepreneurs of the Decade (2000-2010), and in December 2010, the NIMN awarded him the Most Valuable Personality (Titan Class) for Life Achievement in Advertising Development.
In February, 2011, Marketing Edge Magazine honoured him as its Brand Personality of Year 2010.
In Nov., 2011, he was elected Fellow of the Institute of Security, Nigeria (FISN). In December 2012, he received the Brand Power award for Distinction and Long time Achievement and was recognised and honoured by Business World as a Great Nigerian Entrepreneur.
In July 2013, he was honoured as one of Chivas’ Top 100 Men in Nigeria. A quiet philanthropist and public-spirited Nigerian, Mr. Shobanjo in Feb 2010, was inaugurated as the First Ambassador-General of Mass Medical Mission (MMM) of National Cancer Prevention Programme (NCPP).
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