OAAN shops for icons as mediators to stop ‘unfavourable’ laws

In a bid to strengthen the association and protect it against the barrage of unfavourable laws across the states and FCT, the Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria- OAAN has appointed Professor Patrick Okedinachi Utomi and Chief Dr. Mrs. Onikepo Akande as patrons.

According to OAAN a statement, there is a paramount need to seek out respectable individuals who have influence in the society and the government to be the voice of Association.

The OAAN President, Babatunde Adedoyin reiterated that to actualise this desire, “we considered a somewhat geo-political spread, selecting people of great repute.”

This gave rise to appointing as a patron, Chief Akande, a foremost Industrialist, and the President of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The reason according the OAAN President, “is not only that she occupies a pivotal role in the seat of commerce in Lagos State, but she is perceived to have good will nationwide, having been a two-time Minister of Industry of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Another choice of a patron was Utomi, a one-time Presidential aspirant, a Political Economist who is very vast in socio-economic issues and a veritable tool for advocacy. He is expected to intervene for OAAN in Lagos State, the East and with the Federal government.

“We are looking to secure a Northern Representative as another Patron and have written to the Emir of Kano Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. His reply is still being awaited, Adedoyin said.

Utomi is a Nigerian professor of political economy and management expert.  He is a Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants of Nigeria] and a former presidential candidate, with a passion for the dignity of the human person and the spirit of enterprise.

Utomi is the founder of Centre for Value in Leadership (CVL) and also a professor at Lagos Business School. He has served in senior positions in government, as an adviser to the president of Nigeria, the private sector, as Chief Operating Officer for Volkswagen of Nigeria and in academia.

Akande, is a Nigerian economist, accountant and industrialist who currently serves as the President of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry and honorary life Vice-President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture.