It is quite unfortunate that last week, Lagos was in the news due to the collapse of the 21-storey building in Ikoyi. I have not come to add more to the various angles of discussion, but to learn from all the tweaks and twists that have emerged from the incident.

Many companies are renowned for reaching out to Very Important Personalities to grace their occasions, commission their projects, and also endorse their products. This is because the product will likely become a reference point and a topic of discussion. In fact, some products move from the lower rung of the product list to a premium product.

The Ikoyi building has played host to the Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi Ilufemiloye Telu 1; the wife of the renowned journalist and publisher of Ovation Magazine, Mrs Mobolaji Abiodun  Momodu; a gospel musician, Adeyinka Akinyemi, popularly known as Yinka Alaseyori, amongst others. In fact, a video of a popular televangelist, Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo, spoke about the developer as a reference in one of his sermons.

What does this imply for your brand? You need to ensure that in your stakeholders’ engagement plan, you have a space for Very Important Personalities, this could be a traditional ruler, Political Officer Holder, a Celebrity, a Religious leader, amongst others. They usually make the headline, and it can positively impact your brand as well.

They have their followers, and there are subtle ways in which they make your product new; your brand topical, and aid your overall growth. 

To make the news, you may need that a-list touch.