Plans have been concluded for the second edition of the Brand Journalists’ Association of Nigeria (BJAN) annual marketing conference in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State. To chair the three-day event is the Chief Executive Officer/Registrar of Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), Alhaji Garba Bello Kankarofi.

Billed for take place hold between November 20 and 23 at the Leisure Spring Hotel in Osogbo with the theme “Tourism marketing as a catalyst for economic development”, the event has also attracted high profile government and industry personalities who will be delivering papers at the annual gathering of brand journalists.

For the first time in a long while to speak at the public function, the Managing Director of Insight Communication, Mr. Jimi Awosika, would be speaking on the topic, “Imperative of effective advertising in growing viable tourism ecosystem” while the Managing Director of Sun Publishing Limited/President, Nigeria Guild of Editors, Mr. Femi Adesina, is to speak on “Nigeria and Repositioning of Tourism Destination”.

Other speakers at the event include Osun State Commissioner for Tourism, Sikiru Ayedun, “Deriving Alternative Source of Income through Tourism”, Chief Executive Officer, August Consulting and seasoned marketing journalist Azuka Onwuka, “Impact of the Media in Destination Branding” and Brand Analyst/CEO, Reliks Communications, Ikem Okuhu, “Tourism in Nigeria: Balancing Marketing With Cultural Practices”.

BJAN leadership, led by its National Chairman, Goddie Ofose, recently paid a courtesy visit to Osun State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon. Sunday Akere, to intimate him on the decision by the association to settle for the State of Osun as venue of this year’s conference as a result of the giant stride the state has recorded in the area of tourism.

According to Ofose, “BJAN members have taken pain to follow up the activities of the State of Osun in the area of Tourism, particularly the way the annual Osun Osogbo cultural fiesta has suddenly turned to international festival. We do not only consider it necessary to reel out the economic benefits of tourism, we want to add our voices to how it can be better marketed. We want other states to learn from Osun and we want Federal Government to invest more in the industry.”

Responding, Akere described the Rauf Aregbesola led administration as a media-friendly government that would continue to contribute its quota to every step taken to add values to journalism practice in the country.

He said: “As a government that appreciates the place of effective communication in government, the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has always regarded the media as a major partner in the journey to touch lives and bring rapid development into the State of Osun.”

While assuring the association that he would table the proposal before Governor Aregbesola, the commissioner called on the media practitioners not to derail in their responsibility as watchdogs and agenda setters in the society. He said Nigeria democracy needs effective media to blossom.

News Express recalls that the maiden edition of the BJAN Conference which took place last year in Abeokuta, Ogun State, attracted top industry practitioners. Among them were Group Managing Director Prima Garnet/former APCON Chairman, Lolu Akinwunmi; Head, Marketing and Communications, First Bank, Mrs. Folake Ani-Mumuney; Group Head, Communications, Dangote Group, Mr. Anthony Chiejina; and former Chairman, Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria/COO 141 Worldwide, Mrs. Bunmi Oke.

•Photo shows Kankarofi.