It’s the fourth year again, a time we choose a new set of leaders who will pilot the affairs of the state for another term. For us, it’s been a mix of many things. Even though I am an incurable optimist, I haven’t seen much changes on the field of play from the last season, in terms of the key players and their promises. Almost all the front liners now were there in 2015 one way or another and the narratives haven’t really changed much, except the addition of a few lexicons.
We are at a very important threshold of our nationhood where many things seem to bedevil our beloved country. From deficit in the economy, saying it mildly, to ‘banditconomics’ where kidnapping for ransom is said to have become a most ‘lucrative business,’ to ethno-religion intolerance and killing of unusual proportion, just to mention a few.
Now is another opportunity for a change, Nigeria on the match again, with the leading trio of Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, BAT, with a strong political base across the country and undeniable impact in Lagos state, where he was governor for 2 terms of 8 years. It was on record that he managed the state’s affair in the midst of an almost impossible situation, when the then Federal government cut off allocation to the state. He is fondly BATIFIED
Or Mr Peter Obi, a soft spoken, but analytical business man and a former Chairman of a bank, who was also a former 2-time governor of Anambra state. Mr Obi could have been an underdog, but the vibrancy of the OBIDIENT movement is a source of sleepless nights for his opponents. Many believe that he is the shocker for the old-timers.
Then the ATICULATED, with the former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, a veteran in the race for the highest office. A position he has been eyeing since 1992. You may not like him for many reasons, but you can’t deny his business acumen with thriving companies that have lasted for decades.
For me, this is not a football match between our favourite clubs- which could be just for fun. This is ABOUT US as a people, our lives, and families for the next 4 or 8 years. It’s important we call the major contenders to serious public discuss, where each one will have to convincingly present their manifestos.
Gone are the days of vague promises of 1 dollar to 1 naira or stipend payment for the poor and vulnerable bullshit. It should rather be ‘What are your solutions?’ And I think part of the solutions, if we are really sincere is restructuring, state policing etc, where each region or state is allow to develop at their own pace, manage their resources and make returns to the central, just as they have in many of the developed democracies that we are following. Lagos can’t be developing at the same space with Jigawa, Ebonyi or Ekiti state for many reasons. Having everyone growing at same pace is drawing every other back at the same time. On the other hand, the fast pace development of states like Rivers, Ogun Kano, Kaduna, by virtue of their resources and IGR will be a reference and motivation to smaller states like Zamfara, Kebbi, Akwa Ibom, Osun etc.
I sincerely hope that the major contenders would see this as not a recurrent campaign promises to win an election, but major policy focus, if we really want to get out of this age-long squirm for good.
Back to the beat, ‘nough said.
In this special edition of the BRANDNIGERIA Publication, we present to you a report on the 50 top brands in Nigeria for the year. These are brands that have become proponents of value addition to the nation in various ways. What is Nigeria without these brands anyway? The good thing is, increasing number of corporate organisations, even the up-comings had learnt that the brand is an important asset that sustains the business and ensures profitability on the long run.
Aside from the profile of the top brands, we have very educative and exciting presentations, which include a step-by-step approach on building a strong brand. This is a must read for anyone running his/her own business or building brand for others as a service. We also have comparative study of Japan nation brand using soft branding and how this can be applied to Nigeria; an important contribution from our Brand Advisor, Prof Priya Sabaprakan. And the indefatigable Madam at Ladybird, Mrs Bunmi Oke, with her enjoyable marketing communication ‘gist’ among others.
My sincere appreciation as always to all our Advisory Board members, Mr Foluso Philips, Mr joseph Okonmah, Mrs Bunmi Oke, Dr Priya Sabaprakan, Professor Charles Ogbulogo, Mr Olufemi Awoyemi, Mr Victor Oluwadare, Mrs Josephine Aligwekwe. Thank you very much.
I also appreciate every contribution to the research, particularly, CMOs and head of Corporate Communications/Affairs, who contributed as respondents during the TOM survey which resulted to the Most Popular Brand.
Lastly, I like to thank all our partners and supporters and those that advertise in the publication. Without you, we might not have this done. Thank you and God bless.
On a last note, you can only be one at a time, and another experiment will be too expensive for us as a nation. For the sake of yourself and your family, please choose wisely. That sound like a compulsion, because it’s really is, for our common good.
#IAMBRANDNIGERIA as always
