Opinion

Tony Agenmonmen at 70: Marketing icon, mentor and gentleman

Published

3 months ago

August 3, 2026

By Ehi Braimah

Some people pass through life leaving footprints. Others leave enduring legacies. As family, friends, associates, former colleagues of Nigerian Breweries Plc and distinguished members of Nigeria’s marketing community gather in Lagos on August 8 to celebrate Tony Agenmonmen on his 70th birthday, they are honouring a man whose life has been defined by excellence, integrity, friendship and a solid commitment to the advancement of the marketing profession.

Also read: Nigeria’s Digital Economy Faces a Trust Crisis

Seventy is a significant milestone. It is an age that invites reflection on a journey of purpose, achievement and service. For Tony, it is also a celebration of a life devoted to building brands, nurturing people, promoting professional excellence and forging relationships that have stood the test of time.

Tony Agenmonmen belongs to that rare generation of marketing professionals who have experienced virtually every aspect of the profession.

His distinguished career at Nigerian Breweries Plc, spanning more than three decades, saw him grow through the ranks, acquiring a deep understanding of consumer behaviour, brand management, strategic marketing and corporate leadership.

His years at one of Nigeria’s foremost corporate institutions equipped him with an uncommon depth of knowledge and practical experience that continues to command respect across the business community.

Those who worked with him at Nigerian Breweries remember not only his competence but also his calm disposition, analytical mind and critical thinking ability to inspire confidence.

Marketing, for Tony, has never been merely about selling products. It has always been about understanding people, creating value, building trust and sustaining relationships.

These principles became the hallmark of his career and remain the foundation of his work today.

Retirement at the age of 60 did not mark the end of his professional journey. Rather, it ushered in another productive chapter.

Leveraging decades of practical experience, Tony reinvented himself as a respected marketing strategist and consultant whose counsel is sought by organisations and business leaders across different sectors.

His passion for the profession has remained undiminished, proving that true professionals never really retire; they simply find new ways to contribute.

Perhaps one of his most visible contributions to the marketing profession is the annual Nigeria Marketing Awards, a prestigious event that has become one of the industry’s most anticipated gatherings.

Through this initiative, Tony has created a platform that celebrates excellence, innovation and professionalism.

The awards have inspired healthy competition, recognised outstanding achievements and encouraged younger practitioners to aspire to higher standards.

Tony’s influence extended far beyond the corporate boardroom. As President of the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN), he brought vision, innovation and exceptional leadership to the Institute during his two-term tenure spanning four years.

At a critical period in the evolution of Nigeria’s marketing profession, he inspired members with fresh ideas, strengthened the Institute’s profile and championed initiatives that enhanced professionalism, ethical standards and continuing education.

Under his stewardship, the NIMN became more vibrant, more visible and more relevant to practitioners and stakeholders alike.

His inclusive leadership style and strategic thinking earned him the admiration of colleagues across the country.

His presidency remains one of distinguished service, leaving a lasting legacy that continues to shape the Institute and inspire future leaders of the marketing profession.

In celebrating others, Tony has strengthened the profession he loves. He understands that industries flourish when excellence is recognised and when outstanding performance becomes worthy of emulation.

His commitment to honouring excellence has enriched Nigeria’s marketing ecosystem and contributed significantly to its continued growth.

Yet, beyond the impressive credentials and professional accomplishments lies the man many of us know personally – a dependable friend, loving husband, caring father, trusted adviser, compassionate mentor and true gentleman.

For me, Tony is much more than an accomplished marketing professional. He is a close friend and associate, but even more importantly, he has always been like an elder brother.

Over the years, he has been one of the strongest supporters of my career and professional calling.

His encouragement, wise counsel and unshakeable confidence in my abilities have provided invaluable support during different phases of my professional journey.

We have collaborated on several projects, sharing ideas, challenging each other intellectually and working together in pursuit of excellence.

Every engagement has reinforced my admiration for his professionalism, discipline, work ethic, and remarkable ability to see opportunities where others often see limitations.

Working alongside Tony has always been an enriching experience because he brings not only knowledge but also wisdom, patience and perspective.

Our friendship extends beyond professional engagements. We share more than common interests; we share common roots.

Coming from the same linguistic background of Edo State has created an even stronger bond founded on shared values, mutual respect and cultural affinity.

That connection has blossomed into a friendship that has endured through the years and become part of our respective family histories.

Our families know one another well. My wife enjoys a warm relationship with Tony’s family, just as she does with his younger brother, Julius, whose own family has long-standing ties with ours.

These relationships illustrate something Tony has always cherished – that genuine friendships should transcend business and become enduring family connections built on trust, loyalty and mutual affection.

One of Tony’s greatest qualities is his humility. Despite his outstanding achievements and his respected position within Nigeria’s marketing profession, he remains remarkably approachable. He treats everyone with dignity and respect, regardless of status or position.

He is generous with his time, open in sharing his knowledge and always willing to encourage younger professionals finding their feet in a highly competitive industry.

His leadership has never been loud or flamboyant. Instead, it has been quiet, thoughtful and deeply effective.

He influences through character rather than position, through wisdom rather than authority and through example rather than mere words.

These are qualities that have earned him admiration across generations of marketing practitioners.

Integrity has also defined Tony’s life. In both business and personal relationships, he has consistently demonstrated honesty, fairness and dependability. His reputation has been built not simply on competence but on character.

In an age when reputations can easily be compromised, Tony remains a shining example of professionalism anchored in ethical values.

For younger professionals entering the marketing industry today, his life offers enduring lessons. It teaches that success requires hard work and continuous learning; that leadership demands humility and service; that relationships are invaluable assets; and that true greatness is measured not merely by personal accomplishments but by the number of lives positively influenced.

As we celebrate Tony Agenmonmen on his 70th birthday on August 8, we celebrate not only an accomplished marketing strategist but also an exceptional human being whose generosity and kindness have touched countless lives.

On behalf of my family and all whose lives you have enriched, I extend heartfelt congratulations on this remarkable milestone.

Thank you for your friendship and goodwill; your encouragement, your mentorship and your steadfast support over the years. Thank you for believing in people and for investing your time, wisdom and energy in helping others succeed.

Your legacy is firmly established – not only in the brands you helped build or the professionals you have mentored, but in the countless friendships you have nurtured and the values you continue to uphold.

May the years ahead bring you continued good health, divine favour, peace of mind and abundant joy. May you continue to enjoy the love of your family, the admiration of your friends and the respect of your professional colleagues.

Also read: Accord Raises Alarm Over Osun Election Violence

May your wealth of experience continue to inspire future generations of marketers, business leaders and young professionals across Nigeria and beyond.

Happy 70th birthday, dear Oga Tony.

Opinion

Our Great Tree of Peace: Keynote Address at All Nigeria Rotary Peace Summit

Published

4 days ago

November 9, 2026

Mariam Balogun

Distinguished leaders of government, members of the diplomatic community, representatives of security and law-enforcement agencies, traditional and religious leaders, distinguished guests, fellow Rotary members, ladies and gentlemen:

It is an honour to welcome you to the “All Nigeria Rotary Peace Summit.”

The question before us is how to come together, work toward a shared national future, and achieve true and lasting peace.

Nigeria has enormous potential. We have contributed to peace and stability across Africa, including through our work with the Economic Community of West African States and United Nations peacekeeping and Peace Support operations.

Our work in Liberia and other parts of Africa shows that we have the experience and ability to help prevent and manage conflict beyond our borders.

Now it is time to turn those energies inward — to bring our commitment to building peace among our neighbors and the world back home.

But we cannot impose peace. We must nurture it from the very roots of our society so it may grow into a great tree that will feed and shelter all of us under its protective embrace.

As a member of Rotary, when I consider this idea, I look to the philosophy of Positive Peace.

Peace, through this lens, is so much more than the absence of violence. To achieve true and lasting peace, we must consider the attitudes, institutions, and structures that create and sustain peaceful societies.

Here in Nigeria, meaningful peace cannot rely on our security forces and government institutions alone. It requires every level of society to come together for the betterment of all.

To grow Positive Peace from the ground up, Rotary starts from the very foundation of life, as we have done here.
In 2022, Rotary began a program called, “Together for Healthy Families in Nigeria.”

Members of Rotary here in Nigeria and as far away as Germany partnered with federal and state health ministries to make giving birth safer for both mother and child.

The program has helped expectant mothers across three states and the capital receive better and more frequent prenatal care.

Community health workers made nearly 60,000 visits to homes of expectant mothers and spoke with them and their families. We supplied 158 health facilities with contraceptives, medicine, and equipment.

We have already seen positive outcomes. Maternal deaths were reduced by 77%, and newborn deaths were reduced by 45% at supported facilities.

There is more work to do, but we are making progress. This is one way we plant the seeds of peace in Nigeria and around the world — we listen to the community, work with people so they can make their own lives better, and we stay committed to our goals.

With each child born safely to a healthy mother, we ease the burden carried by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. We give families a greater sense of safety and security.

This is the beginning of Positive Peace. But members of Rotary do not stop once the seeds of peace are planted.

Since 2020, Nigeria has been free of the deadly grip of the wild poliovirus, which paralyzed and sometimes killed children when their lives had barely begun. And we continue to work with our friends at the World Health Organization and others to keep it that way and address the more recent outbreaks of variant poliovirus.

Rotary also builds peace directly. Members of Rotary clubs across Nigeria devote themselves to building peace every day.

And the year after Nigeria was declared wild polio-free, Rotary worked with Makerere University in Uganda to open a Peace Center, where students — called Peace Fellows — can learn how to build lasting peace both here in Nigeria and across Africa.

Over the years, more than 75 Rotary Peace Fellows have come from Nigeria. Some of our Peace Fellows are even here with us today.

I tell you this not to advertise Rotary (although we can always use new members). I tell you this because I want you to know that Rotary is already a quiet partner in peacebuilding — not only around the world — but here in our shared home.

As members of Rotary, we are not soldiers, ambassadors, or diplomats. We bring people together to find common purpose through service to others. We are here for Nigeria, and we are here to stay.

This year, I have called on every member of Rotary to Create Lasting Impact, and today, my brothers and sisters of Nigeria, I ask the same of every one of us.

I ask us to look at every level of society in Nigeria and consider how we can make all our lives better — not only today, but far into the future of this great nation. We may not speak the same language, worship the same way, or live the same way, but our nation’s future depends on all of us working together.

This summit is an opportunity to turn our shared commitment to peace into practical action — to take mere words and transform them into a bright future for us and all our children.

To my dear friends and family of Rotary here today, I challenge you to make peacebuilding in Nigeria our legacy of lasting impact.

As I have said to the Rotary world time and time again, we must consider how everything we do contributes to peace and pursue that peace purposefully and deliberately.

Rotary can help build confidence between institutions and communities, strengthen public trust, and ease the burden of everyday life that makes peacebuilding that much harder … but we must do so with purpose.

And before we can Create Lasting Impact in Nigeria, we must first have the courage to change ourselves, whether we are members of Rotary or not.

We cannot continue to do what we have always done and expect our great tree of peace to magically sprout from the ground. We must nurture our country and ourselves with all our being.

Give yourselves permission to be changed by what you see and hear at this summit.

That is how lasting impact is achieved — through people who are willing to change, institutions that are prepared to work for everyone, and communities that have the capacity to sustain progress.

And once we allow ourselves to change, we open ourselves to a new future — a future where the circumstances of someone’s birth do not determine their access to justice, opportunity, or dignity.

A future where differences are respected, where violence is rejected, and where we all come together, not as different groups in competition, but as Nigerians in harmony.

As we begin this summit, let us commit to more than resolutions and declarations. Let us commit to stability through change.

Remember that our true measure of success is not the words we share among ourselves today, but the impact of our actions that lasts generation after generation.

And if our commitment to peace is true — if our capacity for change is enough — our children, and their children after them, will enjoy the fruits of our labor under our great tree of peace — protected, safe, and free.

Thank you.