I used to think that Arsene Wenger owned Arsenal because his name is “Arsene”. Don’t mind me.
United Bank of Africa commenced operations in Africa since 1949 as the British and French Bank Limited (BFB).
UBA was founded over 10 years before Tony Elumelu was born. Tony Elumelu was NOT also the founder of Standard Trust Bank that later merged with UBA. Tony Elumelu said he was given a chance to work at STB as a graduate with a Second Class Lower. So, how could he had founded STB? (Story for another day)
Tony never found any bank. He bought a distressed bank (Crystal Bank) in 1997 and change it to Standard Trust Bank which later merged with UBA. Standard Trust Bank did not buy UBA.
The UBA History also makes it clear that UBA existed for decades before the STB team came on board. It was not an outright acquisition. It was a merger that happened during CBN Governor Charles Soludo’s Bank consolidation of 2005.
The name of UBA was retained for its size and years of banking record while STB’s logo was retained. Before the merger, UBA brand color was yellow, when they merged with Standard Trust Bank it became red and the new logo was introduced. UBA’s logo today is a combination of STB and UBA logos when both banks merged in 2005.
STB management was dissolved and TOE was elected as the new CEO of UBA. In a scenario where two companies merge and retain their legal identity, the new owner CANNOT be called a founder.
Just like Madam Kuforuji Olubi was the Chairman of UBA between 1984-1990, Tony Elumelu is the Group chairman of UBA (as the highest shareholder), not the founder. Tony Elumelu is not the Founder of UBA.
Personal branding has made Tony Elumelu the UBA hype man!
7 years ago, I was nobody to be reckoned with. I was just lost in personal development.
6 years after, I have a name that can be ‘Googled.’
Hardly can I walk into a place today without at least one person saying, “I think I know your face somewhere.” Sometimes, before I introduce myself, “Who doesn’t know you?” is the next response I get.
What changed? My Personal Branding.
What is Personal branding?
1. Branding is not trying to please everyone or make yourself acceptable to everyone.
Branding is trying to make yourself the most acceptable in your industry.
2. A beautiful neatly dressed lady without a good character is most likely to find a ‘Moses Bliss’ faster than a dirty, smelly poorly built lady with a good character. She needs to be ‘packaged’ or ‘tushed up’ to be firstly attractive.
Branding is building an attractive container for your content. Your content is the value you carry.
3. Branding is the reason why people who are not as good as you are GET HIGHER PAY and MORE REFERRALS than you.
4. Branding is about consciously closing the gap between what people say or think about you (perception) and what you truly are (identity).
5. Branding is not faking it. It is projecting your authenticity.
6. Branding is not to seek fame. It is about standing out in a market full of solution/value providers.
7. Branding is about building your life around one mission and be known for it. Tunde Onakoya is the face of chess in Africa – a mission connected to help slum kids. Prof. Ndubuisi Ekekwe is sold out for technological innovation.
You cannot talk about affiliate marketing in Nigeria without mentioning Toyin Omotoso.
8. You don’t have to wait till you ‘blow,’ before you start building a personal brand. Start today and keep tweaking it. Branding is a continuum.
9. Whether or not you are conscious about it, you already been known for something. How do Kanayo O Kanayo convince an average Nigerian that he is not a ritualist in real life?
Branding is about INTENTIONALLY and CONSCIOUSLY changing your brand perception to match with your identity.
10. You lose your authenticity when your brand values do not align with brand perception. You cannot be a perpetual latecomer or a chronic debtor and claim that you have INTEGRITY.
11. Wearing white suit and red tie always like Bishop David Oyedepo or Ankara outfit like Ngozi Okonjo Iweala or bow tie like Akinwumi Adesina or black outfit like Peter Obi or head turban like Sola Allyson can form a part of your personal brand.
Although you should not start this if you can sustain it, always remember that you are free to evolve whenever you want to. Branding embraces flexibility.
What makes up your brand?
1. Personality
Controversial – Daniel Regha
Professional – Taiwo Oyedele
Confidence – Seun Okinbaloye
Humourous – Ojy Okpe
Simple – Chioma Ifeanyi-Eze
Poise – Tony Elumelu
Extreme Privacy – Mike Adenuga
2. Values – Kingsley Ndimele (Integrity personified)
3. Story – Hilda Baci
4. Vibe – Funke Felix Adejumo
5. Expertise – Dr. Ola Brown
How to build a personal brand
1. Quality – It is better to increase your price and maintain quality than to reduce your quality and maintain your price.
2. Visibility – Use social media to enhance your visibility. Nobody knows who is not seen. Dr. Dipo Awojide is good at that.
How would Zacchaeus have been seen if he had not climbed the tree? That is what POSITIONING is all about.
This is where many First Class graduate miss it. They only show up to announce themselves on the day of their Convocation and disappear.
Meanwhile there is a Third Class graduate showing up every day with valuable contents, high-level branding and mind-blowing contributions on social media.
Life only favours the courageous, the diligent, the valuable and the visible. Firstly, be valuable. Secondly, be visible.
3. Consistency – Aproko Doctor is another name for consistency. Tunde Ednut has been posting consistently for the past 8 years for at least 4 times daily.
© Kingsley Ndimele
Your Reliable Consultant