Veteran advertising and marketing leader and the chairman of Troyka Holdings, Biodun Shobanjo, has become the first recipient of the BB Apprenticeship Award by the Bolaji Junaid Mentorship Programme, recognising his significant contributions to mentorship and industry growth in Nigeria.

At the third edition of BJuMP’s Mentors Meet Mentees Mixer held recently in Lagos, the founder of BJuMP, Bolaji Junaid, described the award as a tribute to leaders who have profoundly shaped the careers of young professionals in corporate Africa.

Jimi Awosika was honoured alongside Shobanjo, with both receiving accolades for their enduring impact on the advertising and marketing landscape.

Junaid lauded Shobanjo’s legacy, emphasising that beyond building an industry, he has built generations of professionals.

The event featured a fireside chat with Shobanjo, where he reflected on the sector’s transformation.

“Over 43 years ago, advertising was not a preferred sector. Today, it generates over N605bn annually,” he noted.

Shobanjo stressed that the industry’s future lies in the hands of young professionals, highlighting the crucial role mentorship plays in career development.

He also shared insights on mentor-mentee relationships, noting, “The circumstances that determine a mentee leaving his mentor will determine whether a relationship will persist.”

Adding to the tributes, the Director-General of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria, Olalekan Fadolapo, represented by Winifred Akpa, commended Shobanjo’s contributions, stating that his influence will be remembered for generations.

The event also saw the unveiling of Tripreneur, a book by Bolaji Junaid, chronicling his journey through entrepreneurship, sociopreneurship, and intrapreneurship, offering lessons to young professionals seeking career resilience.

With Shobanjo and Awosika as the first honourees, the BB Apprenticeship Award sets a new benchmark for recognising mentorship excellence in corporate Africa.