Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, the Chairman of Odu’a Group of Companies, is set to deliver the keynote address at the highly anticipated 2024 Brands and Marketing Conference, scheduled for December 6, 2024.
The event, organized annually by the Brand Journalists Association of Nigeria (BJAN), will take place at the Oriental Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos, starting at 10 AM.
This flagship conference serves as a significant platform for seasoned analysts and industry stakeholders to discuss pressing issues affecting the Nigerian integrated marketing communications sector.
This year’s theme, “Rebuilding Consumer Confidence: Addressing Policy Impact and Market Realities,” aims to delve into the intricate relationship between government policies and consumer behavior.
In his keynote presentation, Ashiru will address critical topics that will later be dissected by a panel of brand experts and analysts.
BJAN Chairman Clara Okoro emphasized the conference’s focus on how various government policies—such as interest rate adjustments, tax reforms, and subsidy removal—affect disposable income and consumer spending patterns.
Okoro stated, “We will explore strategies for businesses to adapt to weakened consumer purchasing power and shifts in consumption patterns due to policy changes. Our discussions will examine how brands can pivot their strategies to maintain relevance and profitability amidst economic pressures and policy-induced constraints.”
READ ALSO: AAAN, BJAN partnership to strengthen advertising industry, advance ‘REV’ agenda
Otunba Bimbo Ashiru has a distinguished background, having served two terms as the Honourable Commissioner for Commerce and Industry in Ogun State from 2011 to 2018.
During his tenure, he oversaw remarkable developments in the state’s business environment, resulting in an astounding 1,279.84% increase in internally generated revenue. His leadership attracted over 300 factories and companies to Ogun State, with cumulative investments amounting to approximately N691.77 billion in 2014, a significant rise from N377 billion in 2013. This achievement positioned Ogun State as the top location for manufacturing in Nigeria, according to the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria.
Additionally, Ashiru’s tenure saw Ogun State ranked among the top five states in Nigeria for ease of doing business in the World Bank Group’s Doing Business in Nigeria 2014 Report, a remarkable improvement from its 36th position in 2010. He was instrumental in establishing a One-Stop-Shop Investment Center (OSSIC) within the Ministry of Commerce & Industry to streamline investment procedures and documentation for potential investors.
An expert in investment and strategic management, Ashiru is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (FCIBN) and has received multiple accolades, including the Best Commissioner of the Year at the Nigerian NewsDirect Awards in 2015 and the Most Proactive Commissioner at the FIBAN Excellence Awards in 2013.
The upcoming Brands and Marketing Conference promises to be an insightful gathering, as industry leaders and stakeholders come together to navigate the evolving landscape of marketing and consumer engagement in Nigeria.