Last year, the ecosystem lost leading practitioners and fellows of the profession. One of the was Otunba Bankole Ademulegun, the managing director of Media Link Limited, two-time president of OAAN and chairman of Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Association. A year later, some practitioners still express fond memories of this industry pacesetter who was nicknamed “The People’s General.”
A Leader Par Excellence
How time flies. So, it is already a year that Otunba Kole Ademulegun let us. But his memory is still fresh in my mind.
Otunba Kole Ademulegun had an enchanting personality. To me, he was more than just a leader; he was a leader who walked the talk. His leadership style was one of selfless service and others first. He was not discriminatory; he carried everybody along. He was fearless and did not care whom he offended as long as he felt he was doing the right thing and for the good of all.
On relationship level, he was a people’s man, a fantastic client service person, exceptional in relating with people – young, old, high, low, big or small. He was an achiever who would go all out to get results.
His love for the profession was very glaring and he gave his all for the development of outdoor advertising and the industry as a whole. He fought the “OAAN Wars” courageously, and from the front. No wonder he was called “The People’s General”, by peers, colleagues, friends and acquaintances.
Kole was a pioneer of the later generation of outdoor advertising practitioners and he and his colleague, Chief Babu Akinbobola were called the “wonder kids” of outdoor advertising in the 80s and 90s. Together they set standards for us, and brought innovations. He would be remembered for many things, including the “Mako war” and OAAN Poster Awards.
I wonder if someone else can ever fill his vacuum. Rest on, the People’s General.
High Chief (Dr.) Francis I. I. Eshiebor, frpa, Chairman/CEO, Nationwide Advertising
