The President of National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN), Dr. Bolajoko Bayo-Ajayi has said the decision to hold the women in marketing event, tagged “Leadhers in Marketing” stemmed from the need to give women in the profession, the necessary push to enable them have a voice in the top echelon of the practice.

 

Bolajoko, who stated this at the well-attended, maiden edition of the event held in Lagos, recently, noted that despite the exploits of women in the practice, such feats are not commensurate with the representation they have at the leadership of the practice.

 

The NIMN boss explained that the conference, deliberately planned for women’s annual month, March,  was designed to fill that void, by bringing  to the fore, reasons women must take up the task of calling the shots in marketing and even beyond the practice.

 

She therefore charged women practitioners not to relent, adding that despite the exploits of some  female practitioners in the profession, there is still much ground for women to cover in their bid at being in the boardroom.

 

“The vision is to provide a thriving community of women that have the skills, the competence and opportunities to lead and to influence and beyond marketing,” she stated.

Bolajoko  explained that  the theme of the conference: “ Redefining Influence: Women Shaping The Future of Marketing”,  was meant to mentor and position women to enable them have the much-needed influence to shape the future of the practice.

 

Applauding NIMN  for coming up with the initiative, branding and marketing expert, Iquo Ukoh, called on women marketers to learn to upscale and upskill to be able to shape the future of marketing.

 

“The question we should ask ourselves as women is: what have we really done to change the face of marketing?

 

“I used to work for a seasoning brand, and  then, it was all about the woman in the kitchen, taking  care of the children, with the  husband coming  home to sit in the parlour. But we changed that and we started seeing the guy and the lady in the kitchen.

“It didn’t happen overnight. It’s because the voices of women were raised. It’s not about cooking with a seasoning brand, it’s because some of us have used our voices to shape that narrative,” she stated.

While charging women practitioners on the need to make themselves heard, Ukoh also expressed the belief that until women begin to do that, they might not be in a position to tap into the huge leadership opportunities within the marketing space.

 

In her remarks, the President Experiential Marketers Association of Nigeria (EXMAN) Tolu Medebem, called for collaboration among women to enable them form a formidable force, capable of shaping the future of the profession.

 

“We can’t do it alone. Let’s hold those hands that had done it in the past and take a walk together,” she added.

 

The Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Folashade Bada Ambrose, also commended the institute for creating a platform, dedicated to advancing leadership, visibility, mentorship, and professional growth among women in marketing across Nigeria.

“By establishing a space where female professionals can connect, learn, and inspire one another, the Institute is making a strategic investment in the future of the marketing profession in Nigeria,” she added.

 

The commissioner described the theme of the conference as speaking directly to the realities of the evolving global economy.

 

She argued that influence  in today’s world is no longer measured solely by titles or hierarchical authority, but, increasingly, being defined by ideas, innovation, authenticity, and the ability to shape markets, culture, and economic outcomes.

 

The Honourable commissioner described  the economic contribution of women in Nigeria as profound; since women own approximately 40 percent of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in the country,  collectively accounting for more than 96 percent of all companies and roughly 86 percent of employment across the country.

 

She noted that despite the figures, exhibiting a compelling story of  women, not  merely contributing to economic growth, but sustaining the very ecosystem in which commerce thrives, their  representation at the highest levels of corporate leadership has not always reflected the scale of their contribution.

 

“For many years, women within the marketing and communications industry played critical strategic roles while visibility in top leadership positions remained limited. However, we are now witnessing a remarkable shift.

 

“Across Nigeria’s marketing, technology, and communications sectors, women are increasingly occupying influential positions as Chief Marketing Officers, brand strategists, agency leaders, and digital transformation champions,” the commissioner added.

 

Pix Caption:

Registrar/Secretary to Council, National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria(NIMN),Thelma Okoh;  Founder/CEO AT3 Resources, Tosin Adefeko; Hon Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment Lagos State, Folasade Bada Ambrose; President/Chairman of Council, NIMN, Dr. Bolajoko Bayo-Ajayi;  Managing Director/CEO, FITC, Dr.Chizor Malize and  CEO, Act Foundation/Keynote Speaker, Osayi Alile; at NIMN’s ‘LeadHers in Marketing’ Conference,  held in Lagos, recently.