Doing Good is Good for Business…the SO & U Culture
There is value in giving. Apart from admonishing man to love his neighbour as he loves himself, life’s guiding principle and every known faith proclaims that blessed is the hand that gives more than the one that receives. In corporate circles, the practice has become an integral part of best practices for business sustainability and operations through voluntary programmes and support of social impact causes which positively impact the society and in turn enhance the business interests and reputation of organizations.
At SO&U Group, a foremost marketing communications group, there is a corporate understanding that volunteering has a direct social impact on the community. The Group affirms that volunteering and cause support endears the necessary goodwill every organization requires for successful business operations from its host community in order to function effectively and optimally for the stakeholders benefits. Importantly, for it to remain a relevant growing concern. Such endeavor surely establishes it as one that loves its neighbours as it loves itself thereby creating all winner status for both the organization and society.
Recently, the Group demonstrated the potency of the universal truth in the value of giving on February 14, 2018, when it decided to Give Love within to its host community. This was the first time, it would undertake an activity at giving but was surely the first anchored on free giving with full participation of all staff members, their friends and family who voluntarily and massively donated food, clothes and household items.
The exercise no doubt further promoted the value and culture of giving, and was also a practical proof of the Group’s belief in the social impact of volunteering and giving as an integral part of its corporate culture.
Just as many may know that SO&U Group in the years has made a name for itself through the very creative concepts and exciting advertising campaigns for some of the biggest local and international brands. The Group also has a reputation for its unreserved involvement and support of several causes and philanthropy in demonstration business is beyond the sole purpose of making profit the activities of its five subsidiaries namely SO&U Limited (advertising); Soulcomms (engagements and perception management); Maximedia Global Limited (media planning and buying); Vyrus (digital marketing) and Lucid (visual and audio-visual production) and its management team.
Through these subsidiaries, the Group has remained actively involved in support of causes and encouraging volunteering amongst its staff in a manner that benefits the society.
Some notable causes and organizations the group has been supporting over the last 10 years at the least include the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Special Olympics Nigeria, LEAP Africa, Fate Foundation, to mention a few.
This is an easy venture for the Group having been known for years within and beyond the industry as a “Lovemark company” as even the Group Managing Director has strongly lead by example and practices what he preaches.
For instance, Udeme Ufot MFR, the group managing director who has the multiple identities and associations beyond being the head of one of Nigeria’s most creative and marketing group. He volunteers and supports various causes, including LEAP Africa, of which he is currently the board chairman. He is on the board of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group after relentless years if service for the country. He also serves as a director of Special Olympics Nigeria and a volunteer facilitator at Fate Foundation. Indeed, he wears many caps.
Ufot whose passion for volunteering and support of causes, especially through his expertise is second nature, finds fulfillment in mentoring young entrepreneurs to success and also gives hope through practical assistance to the less privileged. He is a source of inspiration to many young people who see him as a role model and has been able to keep the Group focused on its business sustainability practices naturally.
A Member of the Federal Republic (MFR), Udeme remains a leading light in the Nigerian advertising industry, having been a chairman of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) and the immediate past chairman of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria. He is also a former president of the Lagos Business School Alumni Association.
Biodun Adefila, who is the executive director, brands and client management at SO&U Limited volunteers to the motivation of teenagers as a favourite pastime. She encourages young people to imbibe the natural ingredients that can help them create the future they dream of, which includes determination, self-confidence and a mindset that rejects discouragement by temporary setbacks.
Adefila who has thus far had a distinguished career in advertising from Rosabel Advertising, where she cut her teeth as a research and planning executive through Sunrise D’Arcy, where she was a relationship marketing manager, to the SO&U Group which she joined as a senior account executive.
She joined the board of the SO&U Group in 2014 and, in her position as executive director, is responsible for formulating and implementing the Group’s strategies for the achievement of set objectives.
A Bachelor’s degree holder in Linguistics from the University of Ibadan, Adefila holds an MBA (Marketing) from the University of Liverpool, in the United Kingdom, and also did the Advanced Management Programme of the Lagos Business School in 2016. She is a member of the Steering Committee of Women in Advertising (a group within AAAN).
For Mojisola Saka, chief operating officer of Soulcomms, volunteering is part of the job. Her involvement in volunteering is two-fold – official and private. She ensures the subsidiary remains actively involved in providing strategic communication and media support to the Nigerian Special Olympics and LEAP Africa. On a personal level, she has, in the last four years, been actively involved in the planning of the annual Nigerian Economic Summit, as a member of the Planning Committee.
Mojisola owes her effortless involvement in volunteering to her competence in strategic communication, experiential and direct marketing, as well as engagement and messaging. With training received from some of the best communication schools in the United Kingdom, including the London School of Public Relations and Chattered Institute of Public relations, Mojisola has worked with a highly competent and professional team at Soulcomms to deliver successful communication projects on behalf of the business.
A holder of a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, as well as a Diploma in Issues and Crisis Management from the London School of Public Relations, Mojisola has an Advanced Certificate in Social Media Management from the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, (CIPR) in the United Kingdom. A member of the CIPR and the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), she is an alumnus of the International School of Communications, London.
Olufemi Adefowokan is the managing director of Maximedia Global Limited. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of Lovelyn Clair Foundation. His involvement in volunteering sees him use the platform of the Foundation to work for the restoration of pride and dignity among the less privileged. Adefowokan, who is committed to the welfare of those on the lower socioeconomic ladder, encourages them to believe in themselves and helps them to work their way out of their present situations through mentoring and counselling.
His position as managing director of Maximedia thrusts on him the responsibility to develop new businesses and also handle strategic client services. He also oversees planning and implementation of agency’s budgets.
Adefowokan, who joined the SO&U Group in 2001 as a deputy manager, is an expert in media planning and buying. A member of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria and the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, his over 20 years’ experience in the industry is evident in his dexterity in negotiating across media within and outside the country.
The SO&U Group has been able to demonstrate in practical terms that there is, indeed, need for the promotion of volunteering and support of worthy causes, because of the social impact they have on society. Its Give Love initiative will go a long way in reinforcing its commitment to causes that benefit society, with which it has been identified over the years.
Ayodeji Atunwa is the chief operating officer of Vyrus Digital Engagement. He has over the years volunteered his expertise to small businesses, offering branding, creative support and communication services, to achieve sustained growth.
Atunwa, who began his advertising career in 1999, leads a team of highly dedicated professionals who have seen the successful execution of digital marketing for household brands like Unilever, Globacom and Tsogo Sun Hotels, among others. He has also brought his expertise to bear in the execution of high profile projects for clients in the oil and gas, finance, manufacturing, hospitality and education sectors
Atunwa is a member of the Chattered Institute of Marketing and an Adobe certified expert. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Fine and Applied Arts (Graphic Design Major) from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife; a CAM Diploma in Digital Marketing (with accreditation by CIM), and is a member of the Chattered Institute of Marketing.
Abiola Williams joined the SO&U Group eight years ago, and is the chief operating officer of Lucid Audio Visuals. An audio-visual expert trained by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), she is the brain behind popular and award-winning television programmes like the Gulder Ultimate Search, Maltina Dance Hall and Star Quest.
She believes that attention to details makes all the difference. That belief is evident in the production and post production projects she has handled.