By Lukmon Oloyede.
While many experts have over the years lamented the lack of experience of fresh graduates that come into the Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC) industry, Oxygen Academy, a hands-on creative Academy handled by a team of seasoned Advertising professionals is selflessly growing fresh creative talents that are creating hope for the industry in Nigeria.
During the final class of its outgoing students held last Saturday, industry experts and panelists: Steve Babaeko, CEO/Chief Creativity Officer X3M Ideas; Executive Director of 141 Worldwide, Sulaiman Momoh; Managing Director of DDB Lagos, Ikechi Odigbo and Gerald Osugo, Head Marketing Communication at Etisalat commended the efforts of the school Provost, Ozone Mbanefo and other industry eggheads.
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Odigbo believes with brand communication school like 02 Academy, there is high hope for a bigger IMC industry that will help brand owners to grow their brands. In his words: “02 Academy has been able to fill that vacuum. I see the opportunity for fresh and better equipped creative talents to come into the industry. I believe as we have more talent coming in, we will have more creativity that will elavate advertising in Nigeria.. I’m very impress with the performance of the students. I could see that they have hunger for creativity and I believe by the time they had some internship they will be able to do very well in the industry”.
Executive Director of 141 Worldwide, Sulaiman Momoh commended the performance of the students is quite encouraging. When we came into the industry, we do not have the kind of exposure that 02 Academy is offering today. So, I believe anyone that this students will be getting assets because of the quality of the training hey are getting. What they just need to learn is how to translate strategy into execution. Generally, it has been very encouraging. The school is not just producing admen but training
The graduating class received a brief to work upon by telecom company, Etisalat. In a team of five: The Avatars, The Avengers, The Fantastic Six, The Incredibles, The Justice, The Mutant X, The Titans and The X-Men presented their works. The Avatars team which include Jide Odi (Team Lead), Temiloluwa Paul, Obi Chinedu, Princess Imoh Tom and Olalekan Adekoya emerged the winner and was rewarded by Babaeko with $300.
In a chat with Brand Intelligence, Ozone Mbanefo, Provost of the Academy said Oxygen Academy believes the quality of the training and mentorship by the industry experts who partnered with the Academy has enabled to school to build a new foundation of growth for the next generation of admen.
“It is so interesting to see these students who upon admission into the academy had no clue on concept origination and strategy and yet they were able to come up with a 360 degrees marketing communications campaign especially for a brand like Etisalat Nigeria”, he said.
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