THE Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) has congratulated Chief Akin Babalola Odunsi, a veteran advertising practitioner and Chairman of Rosabel over his victory at the polls as one of the Senators-Elect in Ogun State. Chief Odunsi was among the Action Congress of Nigeria candidates who won the three Senatorial seats in Ogun State in the re-scheduled Senatorial and Federal House of Representatives election held on April 9, 2011. Chief Odunsi is the Senator-elect for Ogun West Senatorial Constituency.The emergence of Odunsi in the Nigerian political scene, according to the associations Publicity Secretary, Celey Okogun, could best be described as a good omen not just for the people of Ogun State but to the nation as a whole looking at the giants strides he achieved in the nations advertising industry.A renowned marketing communication expert, Chief Akin Odunsi attended the famous CMS Grammar School, Bariga and was the Senior Prefect of the school in his graduating year. His quest for knowledge saw him preceded to University of Lagos where he obtained BA (Hons) degree in 1972. He thereafter proceeded to the University of Illinois, Urbana, Champaign, USA where he graduated with MS advertising, July 1973.He began his advertising career in Vince Cullers Advertising Inc. Chicago where he had a stint, before returning to Nigeria in 1974 to join Grant Advertising. He transferred his services to Admark Advertising where he rose to become the first Nigerian Chief Executive in 1976.His quest for new challenges and success made him co-founded Rosabel Advertising in 1978 and was the agencys Managing Director until 1997 when he became the Executive Chairman, superintending the growth of the company into a formidable group which today comprises Rosabel Leo Burnett (Ad agency), Starcom Media (Media Independent), Leo Direct (Direct Marketing) and Edison Ross (PR/Events).There is no doubting the fact that, he has been very active in the Nigerian and indeed, African advertising scene. He served in several capacities in the Association of Advertising Practitioners of Nigeria (AAPN) and became the Hon. Secretary, 1984 -87, Vice-President, 1987-89 and President, 1989-92. He was pioneer commissioner of the National Broadcasting Commission, Akogun noted.He is a Fellow, Institute of Director (IOD); Fellow, Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON). He is the Maiyegun of Ilaro; Babalaje of Koko, Otta; and the Giwa Adinni of Okesuna, Otta.He was honoured with distinguished Alumni Award of the University of Lagos in 1997.Chief Odunsi retired as the Executive Chairman of Rosabel leo Burnett in 2003 after 30 years of fulfilling career which began in Chicago, United States. He is a trustee of the AAAN and MIPAN.As a man who is always poised to face new challenges and has the ability to make success out of them, it is believed that Chief Odunsi entrance into the Nigerian politics would help to change the scene for the better.
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