Nigerian Professional Marketers Seals Unification Deal

By Andrew

The ten years old dispute between the Chartered Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (CIMN) and the Nigerian Marketing Association (NIMARK) has finally been laid to rest.

On Tuesday 22nd July, 2014 at the Lagos Airport hotel in Ikeja Lagos, the two factions put aside their differences and signed a memorandum of understanding; going forward, the amalgamation will now be known as national Institute of Marketing of Nigeria.

The two parties headed by Rotimi Adeyeye (NIMN Gold Card) and Ganiyu Koledoye (NIMN) who were joined by other stakeholders to sign a Unification and Memorandum of Understanding expressed satisfaction at the outcome. They enthused to have long desired to come together as one body that will propagate the essence and core values of the institute while advancing the cause of the profession and interest of the practitioners.

Speaking at the event, the official President of the institute, Ganiyu Koledoye while appreciating the efforts and support of the stakeholders of councils and fellow members, stated that the unification will serve 'as a solidarity institute devoid of mockery'.

'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, and 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 appreciated the support and role of the federal government for making this a reality while acknowledging the Olusegun Obasanjo led administration for promulgating an Act that established the Institute in 2003.

The then factional leader of NIMN Gold Card, Rotimi Adeyeye while commending Koledoye for his relentless effort in bringing both parties together stated that, the Marketing profession in the country will go all the way to ensure that its impact is felt. '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 move towards developing the nation,' he enthused.

The institute was established by Act No. 25 of 2003 which was promulgated into law on 25 July by the then President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. Hitherto, two professional bodies - Nigeria Marketing Association (NIMARK) and Chartered Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (CIMN) had existed as separate professional bodies competing for membership and authority to regulate the practice of Marketing in Nigeria. The NIMN Act effectively merged the two erstwhile independent bodies and conferred chartered status on the professional body while the Tuesday event officially sealed the unification of the factions.