Encomium
BlackHouse Media (BHM), has congratulated the Group Managing Director at CMC Connect (Perception Managers) & President, African Public Relations Association (APRA), Yomi Badejo-Okusanya on his induction into the International Communications Consultancy Organisation (ICCO) hall of fame.
YBO, as he is popularly called, is one of the premier PR practitioners in Nigeria and Africa. A world-renowned expert on Public Relations, YBO has had an illustrious career spanning over 30 years.
Following the completion of a Bachelor’s degree in History from University of Benin, YBO began his career in marketing communications in 1988 with CT & A, a Lagos based advertising agency and became a Director in 1991.
Since founding CMC Connect in 1992, YBO has consulted for many multinationals and governments in Nigeria and abroad in areas of government relations & legislative affairs, perception management, marketing, advertising, PR and crisis communications.
He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) where he was past Chairman of the Lagos State Chapter. He also sits on the boards of several blue-chip companies in Nigeria. As part of his continued efforts at mainstreaming Africa into global PR practice, YBO has served as a Board Member of the International Public Relations Association (IPRA).
Congratulating YBO on the landmark occasion, founder and CEO, BHM Group, Ayeni Adekunle said, ‘’We are delighted to celebrate this recognition with YBO. Having led the PR industry across the continent for many years, YBO is a role model, and an inspiration for many. We wish him continued success.’’
YBO’s love for Africa is evident in his selfless service to the African Public Relations Association (APRA) where he served as a two-term Secretary-General and is the current President. He was recently appointed as West Africa Chair for the Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA).
Speaking on the induction YBO, said, “I am deeply humbled and honoured to have been elected into this famed hall of achievers in public relations. As I celebrate it, I am quickly reminded of how much more work we still have to do to ensure public relations is rightly valued. Many of our clients relate with us with great levels of ambiguity, which blunts our competitiveness. We as practitioners must collectively correct this anomaly through Affirmative Public Relations. I thank ICCO for recognizing Africa through me, and as a continent, we promise to continue our contributions to the advancement of global practice.”
The International Communications Consultancy Organisation (ICCO) also inducted UK Government Communication Executive Director Alex Aiken, Global Women in PR co-founders Angela Oakes and Susan Hardwick into its exclusive Hall of Fame during the 2021 edition of its annual ICCO Global Awards ceremony.
Established in 2003, the ICCO Hall of Fame recognises those who have made exceptional progress in the internationalisation of the public relations industry, and who have combined cultural sensitivity with commercial acumen to create agencies that share global reach with local relevance.
The 2021 Class joins industry greats like Harold Burson, Richard Edelman, and Margery Kraus.
