Remembering advert Guru, Olasode (1964-2016)

Alhaji Kehinde Olasode, who died in May last year was an advertising guru before his demise. He mentored many young advertising practitioners to find their feet in the sector. Alhaji as he was fondly called by close friends and relations was born to Pa Salawudeen and Madam Rabiiyaat Ayinke Olasode of blessed memory. His parents are from Gbagura in Abeokuta North council area of Ogun State, but had a farm settlement in Erin Itori, close to Iyesi in Ota council area. It was from there that Olasode came to Ebute Metta area in Lagos to continue his education and professional practice in the outdoor advertisement industry.

He started his outdoor advertising career as an outdoor office clerk at PAN (Publicity Associate of Nigeria) under the management of Chief A. S. Adebiyi in 1971. He later moved to Nigerian Advertising Services (NAS) as the outdoor supervisor and to Greenland Publicity Limited as the Outdoor Manager.

As an innovative and visionary young professional in the outdoor industry, he realised he could not fully express his vision, innovation and passion for the job working as an employee in the industry. He assembled a team of passion-driven professional to drive an advert organisation.

That was how one of the leading outdoor advertising company in Nigeria-Abiok Publicity Limited was established by him and his long time friend and business partner, Alhaji Jimoh Atanda Lawal. He was the first managing director of the outfit.

As managing director of Abiok Publicity Limited, he was also an associate and founding member of OAAN Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN) and Advertising Practitioner Company of Nigerian (APCON). He contributed immensely in the evolving practice of outdoor advertising in Nigeria as a strong and reputable member of OAAN and APCON.

He was also a pioneer member of the first outdoor advertising sectoral group known as Outdoor Advertising Contractors Association of Nigeria before it was renamed Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria. Olasode was honoured for his contributions as trustee member and contributed in numerous leadership roles.

In his quest for better outdoor advertising, he instituted three prize awards in the APCON diploma certificate course on behalf of Abiok Publicity Limited – for the best student in communications skills, Alhaji K. Olsaode – for the best graduating student in business communication, and Alhaji J. Lawal–for the best graduating student in advertising production techniques. Each prize award was N5, 000.00. He consistently redeemed the prize awards for seven years.