The Brand Journalists Association of Nigeria (BJAN), a body of writers that cover the Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) space has elected  Clara Chinwe Okoro as the new Chairman to pilot its affairs for the next three years.

Okoro emerged victorious during the election which took place at the BJAN 9th Annual General Meeting/Conference with the theme “ Media Management in Difficult Time; Advertising, Impartiality and Regulation held at Presken Hotel, Opebi, Lagos, on Saturday, December 11, 2021.

Clara, who is a veteran broadcaster and experienced brand writer, is the Executive Producer, Brandworld Media.

She was the vice Chairman of BJAN under Mr. Goddie Ofose’s administration, between 2016 and 2019, where her experience helped in spurring the association to greater heights.

In 2018, her desire to assume the leadership of BJAN as the Chairman suffered a setback via a keenly contested election that brought in the late Princewill Ekwujuru.

Her defeat notwithstanding, Okoro’s loyalty to the association was not in doubt as she constantly contributed to the progress of the association.

Other members elected into other various executive positions included Ayobami Lukman Ishau of Marketing Space, who emerged as the Vice Chairman. He was the immediate past General Secretary.

Others were the former assistant Secretary, Adejuwon Osunnuyi of the Daily Bells Newspaper, emerging as the new General Secretary, Assistant General Secretary; Adedayo Odulaja of New Telegraph, Treasurer; Melvin Udosen of Brandessence, Financial Secretary; Olufemi Adeyemi Matthew of Brand Icon Image and Amechi Obiakpu of ESPI News as Chief Information Officer (CIO).

The outgoing Chairman, Brand Journalists Association of Nigeria, BJAN, Mr Afolabi Idowu with the Chairman-elect, Clara Okoro

In her acceptance speech, the Chairman-elect, Okoro thanked members of the association for unanimously giving her the mandate to guide BJAN’s course and chart ground breaking deliverables for members.

She promised to run an inclusive government as she noted that none would be left behind.

“Three years is not a long time, so we will hit the ground running and with all your support we will triumph over every single obstacles and deliver the BJAN of our dreams,” she submitted.

Noting that the future looks exceedingly bright for the association, Okoro said her administration would do everything within its capacity to make BJAN a globally recognised IMC organisation.

The Brandworld Media executive producer, charging members to form a formidable cohesive front to achieve the results in no distant future, said; “This can only be achieved with the quality of the output of BJANs content in the right spaces and the repository of our collective talents through our writeups and electronic contents and how it is shaping thoughts and narratives in the industry both in Nigeria.

“This is no time to play small anymore you have worked hard to build successes for companies and by extension lives of individuals in those organisations. You and your families can and will benefit from that success as you deserve it.

“We will create a strategy document which would be a road map guiding us in the short medium and long term to achieve these goals.”

While assuring that all her manifesto promises would be followed through, the new Chairman extended her appreciation to Raheem Akingbolu, Peter Jones Ailuorio, Dayo Odulaja, Goddie Ofose,  Afolabi Idowu, Lukman Ishau, Adejuwon Osunnuyi and Patrick Onuoha for the roles they played behind the scene to ensure she  competes and eventually emerged winner in the election.