His Excellency, Rt. Hon Emeka Ihedioha, Imo State Governor (seated) signing into law Imo State Signage & Advertisement with him are the Director General IMSAA - Sir Bidwell Nkemakolam Okere, , Deputy Governor, Engr. Gerald Irona , Hon. Speaker Imo House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chiji Collins, Hon. Deputy Speaker, Okey Onyekamma, Clark of the House of Assembly, Mrs. Chinelo Emehara , Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ndukwe Nnawuchi and other dignitaries at the signing of Imo signage and advertisement law in Owerri, Imo State recently

For the sole objective to regulate, harmonize and plan the out-of-home and visual communication landscape in Imo State, Governor Emeka Ihedioha has signed into law the signage and advertisement agency.

Having signed the signage and advertisement bill into law, the governor wasted no time to appoint one of the Africa’s foremost out-of-home and outdoor advertising practitioners and chief executive officer of Luzo DN Media Limited, Sir Bidwell Nkemakolam Okere as the Director General of the Imo State Signage and Advertisement Agency (IMSAA). 

Those who witnessed the signing of the bill into law in the government house in Owerri, the Imo State capital include the deputy Governor, Engr. Gerald Irona, Speaker House of Assembly, Imo State, Rt. Hon. Chiji Collins, Deputy Speaker, Okey Onyekamma, Clark of the House of Assembly, Mrs. Chinelo Emehara, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of the State, Ndukwe Nnawuchi, newly appointed IMSAA DG, Sir Okere and other government functionaries.

Describing the state of out-of-home in the state prior to the new development, Okere said, “Before now, the landscape has been characterized by indiscriminate erection and installation of hoardings without due regulation and supervision.”

 “Heavy clutters and congested road verges. This necessitated the drive by His Excellency, Rt. Hon Emeka Ihedioha to enforce the law and sanitize the state out-of-home industry to meet the rebuild Imo agenda,” newly appointed DG of IMSAA revealed.

Speaking further on the need to regulate the sector in the state, the IMSAA DG said, It’s primarily to enhance aesthetic scenery of the state as destination for tourist and entertainment hub of southern Nigeria.

According to him, “IMSAA is established to the sole objective to regulate, harmonize and plan the out-of- home and visual communication landscape of Imo state with the view of placing the state as deserved tourist hub of southern Nigeria.”

While dispelling fears of unfair advantage and competition amongst stakeholders, which usually the case in most states where such agencies are established, Sir Okere reassured practitioners and other stakeholders of fair playing ground as well as full participatory administration.

IMSAA boss said, “The fear could be attributed to strangulating policy introduced by fore bearing agencies. But that perception is changing. For IMSAA, we have different strategy and objective. So, there is nothing to be apprehensive about, I can assure you that,” he affirmed.

For the expectation of innovative ideas, he stated that “Sincerely, there is no reinventing the wheel but practitioners, clients and general public should expect structured engagement and new ways of doing things.”

Okere a versatile marketing communication and advertising professional with over fifteen (15) years cognate industry experience at managerial level.

He has Certificate Course in Owner Manager Programme (OMP 14) Lagos Business School and Advanced Diploma Certificate in Leadership, Ethics & Corporate Governance – Graduate School of Public & International Affairs- University of PITTSBURGH PENNSYLVANIAN- USA, member of Advertising Practitioner Council of Nigeria APCON, Institute of Directors –IOD and member, Monitoring Committee-Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria- OAAN 2005.

Some of IMSAA boss outstanding credentials include team leader – Introduction of Milo 3 dimensional Billboards in 1999, team leader Bid and Presentation to Federal Ministry of Sports and Social development for the franchising of National Stadium Outdoor Advertising Opportunities to Marketing & Media and team leader -Relaunch and Introduction of Guinness FES new bottle Pan Nigeria (with client recommendation) in 2003.