With ‘The Will to Win…’ I wish to encourage young people to believe in themselves — Shobanjo

THE much-anticipated biography of renowned marketing communications practitioner and Chairman of Troyka Holdings, Dr Biodun Olusina Shobanjo was launched on Thursday, November 26 in Lagos.

Broadcast via zoom to a global audience, the book titled, The Will To Win: The Story of Biodun Shobanjo was written by Dotun Adekanmbi, an award-winning business journalist and accomplished public relations practitioner.

The book is a detailed capture of Shobanjo’s acclaimed obsession to win.

Diplomat and distinguished boardroom lord, Dr. Christopher Kolade, who Shobanjo described as “my boss for life” chaired the public presentation, via zoom.

While the book was reviewed by veteran journalist, Ray Ekpu, renowned African entrepreneur, Chief Dele Fajemirokun, was the chief presenter. He bought 200 copies for distribution to his alma mater.

The Will To Win: The Story of Biodun Shobanjo is the first authoritative biography on the guru of advertising, who at various times, had been conferred with high honours including Doctor of Letters (D.Litt Honoris Causa) by the Obafemi Awolowo University; Advertising Man of All Time by The Sun newspapers and Most Influential Personality in Advertising in Africa by Africa Development Magazine, Ghana.

The book is an illustrative chronicle of Shobanjo’s career right from his humble beginning as a Studio Manager in the then Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), now Radio Nigeria, to his days at Grant Advertising Ltd, an American-Nigerian agency.

‘The Will to Win…’ also recounts Shobanjo’s foray into entrepreneurship when he co-founded Insight Communications in 1980 and, his days as a daring creative innovator in the marketing communications industry till date.

Author of the book, Dotun Adekanmbi, said he was motivated to write the book because he found Shobanjo’s personality and professional accomplishments quite intriguing, particularly because he evokes diverse passions in players in his industry.

“My determination to unravel the myths that surround him prompted my proposal to write The Will To Win: The Story of Biodun Shobanjo. His willingness to share his professional worldview with young practitioners and people in search of knowledge is what is now being presented to the public,” he said.

Commenting on the book, Shobanjo disclosed that its publication took a while because he had never been interested in a “been there, seen it all and done it all kind of storytelling.”

“In my view, every biography must be a learning encounter for its reader; not a platform for a subject to blow the trumpet of perceived accomplishments in one’s field over several decades. For me, therefore, The Will To Win: The Story of Biodun Shobanjo is a legacy project intended to demonstrate how our Groups – Troyka Holdings, Insight Redefini, Halogen Group – arrived at where we are today in our industry. As I like to say, unless people understand the dream, they cannot act the dream,” Shobanjo said.

Managing Director of Havilah Books, publishers of the biography, Lanre Adesuyi, said it is a delight to handle the publication.  

“The opportunity to work with Biodun Shobanjo and Dotun Adekanmbi on this project has been a worthwhile experience for us at Havilah Books, not just in terms of the technical production of the book but especially in terms of the commitment to excellence by all parties,”Adesuyi said.

The event had in attendance the elite of different sectors of Nigeria’s economy, especially the Advertising industry.

Those present included:  Steve Omojafor, who joined Shobanjo as one of the front-liners of the nation’s Marketing Communications industry. Pastor Tunde Bakare, who Shobanjo introduced as his next door neighbour, was also present.

However, Bakare would later put the relationship in its proper perspective, when he said: “Shobanjo was my landlord and I was his tenant.”

Senator Ben Obi, who sat behind the celebrant at the launch venue, spoke of Shobanjo’s undying will for innovation. Bisi Olatilo, veteran broadcaster and compere, told the audience of how Shobanjo single-handedly built Bisi Olatilo Show (BOS), a popular television magazine programme.

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, was stuck in traffic but according to Shobanjo, “he has been in constant communication with me and I know he will still be here. Those who know him very well, like Pastor Bakare, he is a stickler for time. I suspect Prof might still show up.”

Anchored by Soni Irabor, the launch of The Will To Win… also had representatives of the Awujale of Ijebu land, Oba Sikiru Adetona, who bought copies of the book for over one million naira.

Also, present was the Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede, who thanked the celebrant for his generousity to the university.

In his remarks, Shobanjo said the book is meant to be a source of inspiration to young Nigerians, especially following the #EndSARS protests and the impact on the nation.

Commending the author, Shobanjo said there are more prominent publishers and biographers who had wanted to work on the project but he decided to give it to the author because of his age.

“Perhaps, typical of me, I like to give young people the opportunity to prove themselves. That’s why in spite of the fact that Dotun strayed away I still kept faith with him because I knew he would be able to do a good job,” Shobanjo said.

From Adekanmbi’s ‘excellent’ presentation of the advertising giant’s life story, Shobanjo affirmed that the young people of this country have a lot to offer.

“And for me, the timing of this book particularly following from #EndSARS, and given where I am coming from myself and what God has enabled me to prove in this book, I just want our young people to believe in themselves,” Shobanjo concluded