The Chief Executive Officer of Opportunity To See Limited, Emma Ajufo, who is also the current vice president of the Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN), has been confirmed as the leading candidate to take over from the current president of the association, Babatunde Adedoyin, who is also CEO of Media View Limited, 789marketing can reveal.
Adedoyin, who took over from Charles Chijide on August 2015 was reelected in 2017 for the second term and he will be serving out his mandatory two terms at the Association annual general meeting in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital on June 21-21, 2019.
Unlike other sectoral groups such as Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria, Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, Media Independent Practitioners Association of Nigeria, Newspapers Proprietors; Association of Nigeria and Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria, whose elections are always largely seamless and peaceful, OAAN elections most times, usually left a bad taste in the mouth of some contestants.
However, it is gathered that this year election may not be as contentious and cantankerous as previous one especially ones that brought Chijide and Adedoyin into office.
Initially, our investigations had revealed that the current secretary of OAAN, Femi Ogala, who is tye CEO of Twenty First Limited, was also in the race. But it turned out to be a flash in the pan.
When 789marketing reached out to Mr. Ogala on his ambition, he had this to say “I am not running.” But on who is running, he said, I don’t know yet. The forms are not yet out.”
On his name being teased among the practitioners as candidate, Ogala responded, “I am sure, it’s not only my name that plays up. Honestly, I can’t say yet and I am also not aware that practitioners are asking for me to contest, “he said.
Probing further if it’s statutory for the VP to succeed the president, the secretary quipped, “It is not statutory for the VP to succeed the president. It is open for contest.”
The secretary hint on the open contest may have drawn quite a number to join the race. 789marketing further revealed that some key executive committee members who are interested in piloting the affairs of the Association for the next 2 years are still consulting while Ajufo had made his intention known to all.
When 789marketing asked Ajufo of his ambition, he replied, “who told you?’. But when probed on his agenda for the big job, Ajufo retorted, “The Only agenda I have now is to support the President to serve out his tenure.”
On how he sees himself after 4 years as deputy, the current VP said, “You should help me find out what people think about me. I can’t judge myself. But on the number of contestants, let us wait till the election time. By then, we will know those that are ready.”
Some of the unresolved issues that the current leadership promised to solve during the Association electioneering campaign in 2015 are LASAA unpaid debt to members, multiple taxation, charges on naked or unused boards, rusty relationship between regulatory agency and OAAN and reduction in advertising permit fees.
While stakeholders have been able to record some minimal successes in advertising permit fee and relationship with LASAA, quite a number of critical issues remain pending.
Ajufo said, “These issues you have raised now are being handled as we speak. We may not be seeing the results now but we will see them soon.”
Reliable sources in OAAN and larger industry believed that Ajufo is fit for the job. According to one of them, “Emma understands industry issues well and he also has the temperament to lead a complex association like OAAN,” she said.
She stated that, “At least 70 per cent of the members believe he has capacity and capability to start from where Adedoyin stopped. Experience is also critical and he has it after serving the current administration for 4 years as VP.”
