Nigeria has an Army of Creative Talents – Okoloko

Teddy Okoloko is currently the Assistant Director in charge of Operations and Planning at Integrated Troops. He spoke with Nze Eunice on his passion and aspirations for marketing communications.

My name is Teddy Okoloko. I am the Assistant Director in charge of Operations and Planning at Troops. I got my first degree from the University of Benin where I studied Geography and Regional Planning.
My first work experience was as Personal Assistant to a politician who was the Asst. Publicity Secretary for his party in 2003. I have always nursed a passion for showbiz and there was a strong urge to ignite that passion.
When I left my job as personal assistant, I had a brief stint with Beatdown Entertainment, a start up music and video production company as Head of Business Development before I moved to Outrage Entertainment where I worked as Manager, Branded Entertainment.
I left Outrage Entertainment in 2008 for Integrated Troops Ltd. I resumed as Asst. Manager, Operations, and later rose to the position of Manager and then to Assistant Director in charge of Operations and Planning.
I have been in the industry for a short time but have had the privilege in this time to experience many battles in brand wars. I see marketing communications as the processes involved in communicating to the senses of the consumer. Effective communication affects consumer behavior and can lead to major impacts on the market performance of any brand. As part of this process, I am more involved in the planning and implementation of brand events/experience and continuously research and develop new strategies and ways of connecting with the target.
One of the exciting new things I am involved in is the agency focus on BIE (Branded Integrated Experience). We actually started the directional initiative with OMO wonder show where I led my team into the consumer world. We should be having a launch soon.
In Nigeria, we are blessed with an army of creative talents but in the Nigerian environment there are certain limitations which do not permit us to unleash the extreme wizard in us. I believe we have to think globally and act locally. The truth is, contextually, the fabric will not just fit the style. You will need to be a very good local tailor with a very good understanding of international fabric.
Everyone understands that change is constant; in this line of work change is innovation. The beauty about the job is that ideas are as boundless as the sea. I can relate to all age groups maybe because of my multiple personality and its good for the kind of job I do. I love travelling, reading, singing and all kinds of sports and games.
I aspire to be an authority and a reference point when it comes to creating brand experiences and building brands. I love what I do and the next day never comes soon enough to tackle the next challenge.