Tribune, an icon in media world - AAAN

By Tayo Lewis and Ayo-Lawal Gbenoba - 14.03.2008

THE Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria(AAAN) has described the Tribune as not just a newspaper, but an icon in the media world.

President of the association, Mr. Lolu Akinwunmi, who made this assertion, also expressed his members’ readiness to partner with the African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc., publishers of the Tribune titles, in its determination to make the Tribune newspaper the first choice in Nigeria.

Giving this assurance on Thursday in Ikenne, Mr. Akinwunmi, at a luncheon held for the advertising practitioners by the Chairman of ANN Plc., Chief (Mrs.) H.I.D. Awolowo, said: “On our part, the AAAN will be prepared to partner with the Tribune.”

Looking back into history, the AAAN President noted that sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, as Finance Minister, was instrumental to the promulgation of the indigenisation decree which transferred ownership of such foreign advertising agencies as OBM and Lintas to Nigerians.

This, he said, encouraged many young Nigerians to go into the advertising profession. He noted that like its founder, the Nigerian Tribune is entwined with history, saying that the repackaged Tribune was commendable and assured of the commitment of his association to the Tribune newspapers.

Welcoming the guests earlier, Chief (Mrs.) Awolowo recounted the fact that on November 16, 1949 when the first copies of the newspaper were rolled out, it was in the presence of “my husband, my late son, Segun; myself; and the staff. Then, it was unpopular to read Tribune because of the political atmosphere and we had to take the copies to our house at Oke-Bola from where people will come, wearing agbada to hide them under their garment.’’

She said with the acquisition of a new printing machine, the colour output of the Tribune was much better, assuring that it could only improve even further.

On the entourage of the AAAN president were his deputy, Mr. Funmi Onabolu; Mr. Lekan Fadolapo, executive Director, AAAN; Mr. Sesan Ayeni, Mr. Mich Madueke, Mr. Debo Adedeji, Mr.Sunkanmi Ajiboye, Mr. Sheu Agboola, Mr. Frank Halim, Mrs Oyebola Adewoye, among others.