NIMN to Enforce Mandatory Membership for Marketing Practitioners, Warns Bayo-Ajayi
The President and Chairman of Council of the Nigerian Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN), Dr. Bolajoko Bayo-Ajayi, has disclosed plans by the Institute to intensify enforcement of its statutory mandate requiring all marketing practitioners in Nigeria to be registered members of the Institute.
Speaking during the Annual Marketing Conference (AMC) and Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Institute, Dr. Bayo-Ajayi said NIMN is entering a new phase of advocacy and regulatory enforcement aimed at ensuring compliance with the provisions of the NIMN Act.
According to her, despite the legal requirement for marketers to be registered with the Institute, a significant number of individuals and organisations currently engaged in marketing practice are yet to become members.
She explained that the Institute had, over the past year, adopted an engagement-driven approach by reaching out to organisations and practitioners across the country to create awareness about the provisions of the law and the benefits of membership.
“By virtue of the NIMN Act, anyone practising marketing in Nigeria is expected to be registered with the Institute. However, we still have a large number of practitioners, both at the individual and corporate levels, who are operating outside the regulatory framework of the Institute,” she said.
Dr. Bayo-Ajayi noted that NIMN deliberately chose to begin with advocacy and stakeholder engagement, giving organisations the benefit of the doubt that many may not have been fully aware of their obligations under the law.
“We commenced the process of visiting institutions and organisations to educate them and create awareness. We wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt because some may not be aware of the provisions of the Act,” she explained.
She added that the Institute has also reviewed its membership offerings and value proposition to make them more attractive and beneficial to practitioners and organisations seeking professional recognition, capacity development and industry relevance.
According to her, the enhanced membership package is part of NIMN’s broader strategy to encourage voluntary compliance while strengthening professionalism and ethical standards within the marketing ecosystem.
Having laid the foundation through advocacy, Dr. Bayo-Ajayi said the Institute is now preparing to activate its enforcement mandate in line with the powers conferred on it by law.
“By the provisions of the NIMN Act, we have both the right and the mandate to enforce membership, and we intend to do so within the next one year,” she stated.
The NIMN President therefore urged marketing professionals, business organisations and employers to ensure that practitioners within their ranks are duly registered with the Institute before enforcement measures commence.
“If you know anyone practising marketing without being a member of NIMN, this is the time to encourage them to come on board,” she said.
Industry stakeholders view the move as a significant step towards strengthening professional standards, promoting ethical practice and reinforcing the Institute’s role as the statutory regulatory body for marketing practice in Nigeria.
The planned enforcement drive is expected to accelerate compliance across the industry while deepening the professionalisation of marketing as a critical driver of business growth and national economic development.
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