EXMAN trains students in marketing to close skills gap

The Experiential Marketers Association of Nigeria (EXMAN) has trained communication students from the University of Ibadan in experiential marketing to bridge the gap between academia and the corporate world, thereby training the workforce of the future.

This was announced by Tolulope Medebem, Chairman of EXMAN, during the association’s 11th Annual General Meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State.

“The association’s vision was to nurture talent within the experiential marketing sector, bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, and shape the sector’s future workforce,” he said.

Medebem and Angela Makinwa, Vice President of EXMAN, discussed the challenges facing the marketing sector and the country in 2023. They noted that the association’s current board is working to ensure that members have sustainable careers.

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“Our executive mission is based on the acronym THRIVE, where each letter represents a purpose as a team. It stands for Training and Thought Leadership, Harmony, Relationship, Inclusiveness, Value and Engagement,” Medebem added.

Makinwa highlighted the association’s training initiatives, including a partnership with the Lagos Business School.

“EXMAN and LBS/Pan-Atlantic University launched an Experiential Marketing Management Programme on February 1, 2024, aimed at increasing knowledge and awareness of experiential marketing,” she said.

She added that the program provided reliable and valuable on-the-job training and overall staff development. The first program had 42 participants, 37 of whom were EXMAN members.

Dare Oyegbola, chairman of the EXMAN Membership Committee, said the association received applications from about ten agencies to become members in the past year.

“The eight newly admitted agencies have completed their registration and have met the requirements to be admitted to EXMAN. They join over 60 other agencies that collectively generate annual billings of over N30 billion,” he said.