•Not yet uhuru, stakeholders warn
A dispute that lasted 10 years between the two factions of the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN) – NIMN Gold-Card and NIMN – has been resolved temporarily following a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in Lagos.
Ganiyu Koledoye
Rotimi Adeyeye headed NIMN-Gold Card and Ganiyu Koledoye led NIMN.
Both groups said at the MoU signing ceremony that they had long desired to form one body to propagate the core values of the institute and advance the cause of the profession as well as the interest of practitioners.
The conflict
Marketing had experienced some sanity until the NIMN was founded to regulate the industry.
Before the formation of the NIMN through the NIMN Act of 2003, marketers had divided themselves into the Chartered Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (CIMN) and the Nigerian Institute of Marketing (NIMARK).
CIMN was led by Femi Odufowokan and NIMARK by Taiwo Fagbemi.
The Olusegun Obasanjo administration encouraged the two bodies to merge into the NIMN, yet their differences in the new entity became so intense that Nigeria’s marketing certification became the lowest rated in Africa.
The disagreement led to the invitation of former Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) President, Lugard Aimiuwu, to head the NIMN.
A gentleman’s agreement was reached that NIMARK should have 60 per cent representation in NIMN and CIMN 40 per cent.
Truce turns sour
Aimiuwu became the first NIMN President and Chairman in Council. However, his tenure witnessed polarisation.
According to stakeholders, Aimiuwu remained in the post against the original plan for him to serve for only one year.
This took the protagonists back to the trenches with the emergence of NIMN-Gold Card, led by Odufowokan, who is also the Chairman of Ijebu North East council in Ogun State.
Instead of adopting a different name, the Odufowokan faction broke away, yet retained NIMN as its name, breeding more confusion.
However, the request of the ‘rebel’ faction, as it was called at the time by the Aimiuwu group, was that Aimiuwu should step down as president. He did not agree.
The faction led by Odufowokan also argued that the manner in which certificates were issued ran contrary to the NIMN Act and should be stopped. But Aimiuwu’s saw nothing wrong with it.
Allegations of corruption, misappropriation of funds and hacking were made by both sides.
In search of lasting peace, Aimiuwu was booted out last year in a palace coup.
Another truce
Speaking at the unification ceremony in Lagos, Koledoye expressed appreciation for the support of stakeholders and said unification has produced “a solidarity institute devoid of mockery.”
He added: “This MoU will bind us together as one body and never again will there be any faction or factions that will allow the institute to be ridiculed.
“There is no professional body in the country without any internal crisis, but they always come together to resolve it. Ours will not be an exception. This is why we are here.
“We have gone the extra mile to ensure that NIMN certificate is recognised in other parts of the world. We will also use the institute to contribute our quota towards the development of marketing in Nigeria.”
Koledoye also thanked the federal government for the unification, recalling that the Olusegun Obasanjo administration created the Act in 2003 which established the NIMN.
Adeyeye commended Koledoye for bringing both parties together, saying merging the profession will have a great impact.
“The marketing profession is not in its rightful place in managing the economy of the nation. With the coming together of both parties, we will ensure that the institute takes its leading role and moves towards developing the nation,” he enthused.
Absence of key actors
But fhe absence of Aimiuwu and Odufowokan at the peace meeting was seen as a sign of partial truce. Reasons were given for the absence of Odufowokan, none was provided for that of Aimiuwu.
Adeyeye said Odufowokan fully supports the process but could not attend the meeting because of official assignment in Ogun State.
Koledoye explained that Aimiuwu too “is in full support of what is happening and I believe he is very excited about the new development.”
Stakeholders’ apprehension
Stakeholders who spoke to TheNiche on condition of anonymity said the peace move is still hanging in the balance because of agreements not spelt out.
A senior member of the NIMN said the composition of the new council should have been listed to avoid any games.
“When you are reconciling two people who have disagreed over certain things effort should be made to ensure that all the knotty issues such as positions, areas of disagreement and so on are strengthened to forestall any break up.
“But this development still leaves much to be desired,” he added.
Going forward
The NIM has changed its logo to reflect the new direction. Its headquarters has been moved from Niger House, Anthony, Lagos to Magodo, Lagos.
But stakeholders cautioned key actors not to engage in what can truncate the delicate stability in the NIMN.
