Federal Government has formally granted legal teeth to the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN), after eight years of the institute’s operation.
This feat was announced through a formal proclamation by Okechukwu Enalemah, minister for industry, trade and investments, at the investiture ceremony of the newly elected president of NIMN, Anthony Agenmomen in Lagos.
Commending members of the institute for putting their differences aside and working together as one, Enalemah observed that divisions in the past years had denied the institute the opportunity of playing its statutory roles.
“Now that you are united and looking forward to fully playing your role as prescribed in the enabling Act of the National Assembly of Nigeria under the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria act, 2003 therefore, I Okechukwu Enalemah, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Federal Republic of Nigeria, being the supervisory minister, hereby formally proclaim the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria Act 2003” to the glory of God and the service of Nigeria,” the minister said.
The minister represented at the occasion by the Acting Managing Director of Bank of Industry (BoI), Waheed Olagunju enjoined NIMN to live up to its statutory powers by playing its full part to members and national development.
Specifically, he observed that the strategic relevance of NIMN has convinced him that the Ministry of trade and investment can collaborate with the institute in the task of moving the nation forward, stating that “we need to market the enormous investments opportunities in Nigeria”.
Earlier in his presentation during the investiture lecture, chairman of the Troyka Group, Abiodun Shobanjo, had in his lecture titled “Marketing Nigeria – The Challenges” urged NIMN to bridge the knowledge gap of its members.
Shobanjo stated that “where brand truth becomes questionable, brand collapse is inevitable” – a lot of factors, he observed could be responsible for this happening – one of which is the depth of knowledge, skill and experience of those charged with the responsibility of nurturing brands.
He advised on the need “to design deliberate spin on national meaning by employing story telling at painting an enchanting imagery on the senses of prospective customers in such a way that will stimulate their desire for our assets – spiritual and material – in order to make a choice of destination Nigeria and of course to the rejection of our competition”.
In his speech at the occasion, NIMN president, Tony Agenmomen assured members that his new executive is poised to enforce the provisions of NIMN Act 2003 which clearly states that it is illegal to practice marketing without being a registered member of the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria. The same Act, Agenmomen said, provides for all marketing organisations to register as corporate members
