The brand created by certain persons are supposed to outlive them, and some have been known to span generations with every new period bringing something significant to the bottomline of that brand in itself. The world over, names like Martin Luther King jnr, Rockerfeller, Thomas Edison, Abraham Lincoln, Malcolm X etc are known even after many years and like them, Ejemai, Dangote, Ibeto, Obj, GEJ, PDP, APC, Baraje, Bamanga, Buhari, Atiku etc are brands waiting to last with time as a decider to bother on good or evil.
Nigeria is a brand in her own standing and that is one very important factor of our winning. You may be aware of the various images that we are all too familiar with when we see them and we never find time to search for new names the minute we have needs because like the brands that they are, they have become a "significant member of the team".
In my growing up days, I was priviledged to be part of a people who took total pride in the Nigerian brand and it is with Nolstagia that I am casting my mind back and it feels good. With a show of hands, how many of us reading this piece was born in the 90s? What about the 80s? 70s? 60s? 50s? Anyways, I am sure the majority of persons reading this will relate well to this piece and pray that we somehow again have brands that work.
Nigeria is a brand of her own like I mentioned earlier and the brand that is Nigeria brought about hundreds of workable institutions that worked and because such institutions worked, we as a people worked and the existence of that workability somehow has become a model of some sort and a yardstick for measurement when we have discussions. Till date, it is believed that the infrastructures we have on ground were created in the days when brands made sense in Nigeria.
With workable brands in our Nation, as a people we worked like magic; but then the disconnect with values brought about an inbred of those things that has made our once thriving bundle of brand to be relegated to the back seats with criminal institutions becoming a replacement for those things that worked.
The brand list may be lengthy but it will never be the complete one so feel free to add yours and tell us what it was that made that name a brand and why we need such names to be part of our world.
Now let the countdown begin.
1. The Groundnut Pyramid. Groundnut pyramids can be described as the systematic way of arranging groundnuts in a large building, constructed in form of square or triangle which is specifically for that purpose (storing of groundnuts) and to have a pyramid made out of something, there must be a surplus and that was what we had in groundnuts. It was a beauty and pride to be the Nation from where Pyramids in the form of food and not sand were made.
2. NIFOR. This is simply known as the Nigeria Institute for Oil Palm Research and has varied and enormous infrastructure and has made a considerable impact over the years since its establishment in 1939, through research, development, and extension support for the Nigerian palms industry. NIFOR enjoys substantial international standing as a major world centre in oil palm research. I hear we tutored an Asian country that is doing well in that field.
3. NTA. The Nigeria Television Authority is a household name with the single most powerful Authority to entertain and give the Nigerian nation the news as it comes fresh from every angle of Nigeria. I remember when Television had a time to come on and off and it was 5pm-12midnight Mondays to Fridays and 2pm-12midnight on Saturdays and Sundays. Oh what a feeling you get when you switch on the TV some minutes to 5pm and you are greeted with the black and white lines that still fails to leave my head in a long time. The beauty about the NTA is that they blessed us with many wonderful shows that we never forget in a hurry, shows like Tales by moonlight, New masqurade, Hotel the Jordan, The Village Headmaster, Newsline amongst others.
Today TV never sleeps and it has brought about a a decline in morals et al.
4. Kingsway. This the numero uno amongst non in the supermarket business then in Nigeria, it was the best place to be when you think of making that purchase or stocking. Infact, the Kingsway had whatever you may be needing under one roof and thinking about it and that smell that greets you whenever you step into one of their outlets. This shop stocked authentic products and you can bet your head you were getting value for money and not counterfeit for so much money as is experienced today.
5. PAN. This is the Peugeot Automobile company of Nigeria and that name PAN was associated with brand new and wealth. I still remember when in the early 80s my mum took delivery of a 504GL and it was one of a kind and she like every other owner of a PAN drove with prestige and pride. Whatever happened to PAN?
6. NEPA. Up NEPA!!! I think that sentence says it all and I think we will be better off not dwelling on this particular brand. Ndudi Elumelu and co Rogues left sour taste in our mouths and many other after him have spun deception in various sizes.
7. NITEL. Show of hands, how many of you used the call cards? ........
.....to be continued.
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