BIODUN SHOBANJO: CELEBRATING THE CZAR OF ADVERTISING & PUBLIC RELATIONS IN AFRICA @ 80.
The drums have been rolling for the past few weeks, snippets of his brief interview where he fully identified with the youths trending on the social media and great excitement from family, friends and associates to felicitate with this sage
At the last count, eight different organisations, including Out of Home Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN) , Shobby Collectives , Marketing Edge, have held surprise birthday bashes for him.
For quite some years , a horde of establishments and personalities have laid an “ambush ” to celebrate this icon, but the light complexioned encyclopedia of Advertising & Public Relations, have always find a way to “disappear ” out of the blues to avoid all these razzmatas, preferring to enjoy his annual vacation abroad quietly.
Today, December 24, 2024, my precious Uncle and a household name in the media industry universally, Dr Biodun Olusina Shobanjo OON clocks 80.
What could have made this Chairman of Troyka group of companies so tick that everyone wants to express some form of gratitude or other on his becoming an octogenarian and yet wearing the look of a youngster in his 50’s.
Is it due to his outstanding professional performance, constant discovery of talents whom he props up to become masters of the trade, his principled stance and aggressive nature to business, the spirit of camaraderie and tolerance, the heart of gold of a philanthropist, the utmost dedication of a unique husband and dedicated family man and his commitment to serve God with all he has.
This great man of our time has through his brilliance, hardwork, unparalleled ideas, charm and teaching of homo sapiens how to fish , so they can feed for life has over the years breed the brightest and the best in the Advertising and Public Relations world.
When he added the security outfit (Halogen Security) to it , he equally excelled.
” Baba Shoby ” as he is fondly called by his workers, whom he associates more as colleagues on resigning from Grant Advertising in October 1979 to commence his outfit, Insight Communications has with Mr Jimi Awosika and other associates faced this business with utmost dedication, brilliance and aggressiveness.
The finesse and corporate dressing of Shobanjo and his colleagues have made him a model for generations to copy and improve on.
His outfits like Insight Communication, Quadrant, Media Perspective etc have competed with the best in this industry globally and excelled.
The recognition and honour he brought to his country have brought him international and national honours, which include the Officer of the Order of Niger (OON) by the Federal Government of Nigeria and honorary doctorate degree by the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile – Ife, amongst several others.
Uncle Shobanjo whose father hails from Okun – Owa and mother from Ayepe, both in the Odogbolu Local Government of Ogun State, is also a “prophet with honour ” from his own constituency, Ijebu.
Due to his outstanding contributions in his professional field and philanthropy, several royal fathers have wanted to confer chieftaincy titles on him but he politely declined. To God be the glory that he accepted being one of the pillars of Saint Barnabas Anglican Church, Okun – Owa and he was decorated with the honour at the Church’s 130th anniversary last year by the Anglican Bishop of South West Diocese in Nigeria, , Rt Rev Dr Babatunde Ogunbanwo.
Apart from his philanthropy which included a donation of a building to the Mass Communication department of University of Lagos, Joseph Shobanjo hall to Saint Barnabas Anglican Church, Okun – Owa among several others, Shobanjo is indeed a man of courage.
Some years back when he was resident at Allen Opebi, Ikeja, some dare devil armed robbers, approached his house during midnight with the intention to rob.
They opened gunshots at the gate with the intention to cower him and gain entrance but the robbers met their waterloo as the sharp shooter, Shobanjo who should have become a “General” in the Nigerian Army ( like his late friend, Lt Gen Donaldson Oladipo Diya) returned fire for fire and the staccato of bullets was on for a while before the robbers beat a retreat.
Though Uncle Shobanjo is young at heart, enjoys watching football like them, engage in sporting activities, listening to new generation music and attending their concerts, he abhors all negative behaviours.
He will not allow spraying of money at parties, idle or lazy minds can never be his friends, you have to be meticulous and have eye for details when interacting with him, he enjoys debate and highly receptive to ideas.
In communication he is a guru and will always respond to your text messages and posts which he enjoys better.
An apostle of late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Uncle Shobanjo is a man of virtue, holding his wife, Auntie Joyce in high esteem and his being handsome and comfortable will not bring any form of distraction.
Happy birthday to this loving husband of Mrs Joyce Shobanjo, adorable father and grandfather, and an illustrious son of Africa, who has brought honours not only to Nigeria but the entire African continent.
Sina Ogunbambo who contributed this piece is a Media Consultant. He can be reached on sinaogunbambo@yahoo.com
