Idorenyen Enang, Immediate Past President of the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN), has stirred a bold conversation about the future of marketing leadership, warning that complacency and arrogance among senior marketers are costing them a seat at the top.
Speaking ahead of the African Marketing Confederation (AMC) scheduled for August, in an exclusive interview with The Brand Colossus, Enang did not mince words: “Many marketing directors will never become CEOs and the reason is simple.”
According to him, a culture of self-satisfaction and isolationism among marketing leaders is holding the profession back. “The AMC is happening in August, and NIMN cannot be wished away because we are foundational. I want to see our brightest minds there. But how many marketing directors will show up? Unfortunately, many of them are not interested. They sit comfortably in Nigeria, feeling satisfied with themselves, delegating responsibility.”
Enang believes this attitude explains why finance and operations professionals continue to dominate the CEO space. “I didn’t just wake up one day and become an MD. It was a journey. Leadership is a process, not a sudden leap. Humility must return to the hearts and minds of many marketing leaders.”
In his characteristically blunt tone, he added a warning to those resting on past glories: “Too many of us are full of ourselves, sitting on high pedestals, forgetting that a new generation is coming. That generation will not only eat their grass; they will eat their cow and still come to the table because they understand the process and are hungry to lead.”
To reverse the trend, Enang says marketers must evolve from functional experts to business leaders. “We need to transition from thought leadership to business leadership, and ultimately commercial leadership. Until we do, the C-suite will remain out of reach for most marketers.”
For Enang, the sustainability of the Institute and the profession depends on one critical element: leadership quality. “If you don’t fix the WHO, everything else will crumble,” he warns.
He calls on members to prioritize competence over sentiment when electing leaders. “Stop being emotional about leadership choices. Poor leadership will cripple this profession faster than any external threat.”
Despite his candid critiques, Enang remains optimistic about the future. “The foundation is laid, the tone is set, and the opportunities are enormous. But leadership will determine everything. If we get that right, the future of marketing in Nigeria is bright.”
Legacy, for Enang, is not about projects or structures but people. “My legacy is in people. I invest in people, and they deliver results,” he emphasizes.
During his tenure, he deliberately prepared successors, giving Vice Presidents strategic responsibilities and exposure well ahead of the leadership transition. “Leadership should never be an accident,” he insists.
He also drove diversity, ensuring women held key roles in the Council, committees, and chapters. Today, women represent more than 30% of the Institute’s leadership, a significant shift from previous years.
As he moves into a new phase as a leadership coach and business strategist, Enang’s mission remains clear: to raise leaders who can sustain growth and shape the future of marketing in Africa.
“Humility needs to return to our hearts. Leadership is not sudden, it’s a process. Prepare, evolve, and be ready to lead beyond marketing,” he concludes.
As AMC 2025 draws closer, Enang’s comments spotlight an uncomfortable truth: marketing professionals who fail to embrace humility, continuous learning, and broader business leadership may find themselves locked out of the corner office for good.
