Victoria Onyeacholem, popularly known as Senora Voice, a distinguished figure in the field of marketing and branding, emphasized the pivotal role marketing plays in shaping the future of younger generations.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s 63rd Independence Day on October 1st, Senora Voice, in a recent press statement, remarked, “Marketing is the best legacy to leave for the younger generation.” She underscored the importance of instilling confidence in individuals to promote their skills and crafts from an early age.

Senora Voice raised a thought-provoking question: why not introduce marketing communications as a compulsory subject, akin to core curriculum courses like GST (English and French) in primary, secondary, and tertiary education?

Highlighting the prevalence of marketing in our daily lives, Senora Voice emphasized that every introduction, job interview, and showcase of skills or experience involves a form of selling. She referenced data from the International Finance Corporation, indicating that approximately 96% of Nigerian businesses are SMEs, underscoring the significant role they play in the country’s GDP.

Citing research from WeeTracker, which revealed a 61% failure rate among SMEs in Nigeria, Senora Voice attributed a portion of this to a lack of sales skills and resources. She proposed that early education in marketing could potentially mitigate this issue and foster a customer-centric mindset among founders and individuals in every role.

Senora Voice advocated for a balanced approach to skills acquisition, asserting that while technical skills are valuable, learning the art of selling is equally crucial. She emphasized that instilling confidence in children through marketing education would not only empower them to articulate their value but also reduce the fear of sales.

In closing, Senora Voice emphasized that everyone is, in essence, a salesperson, with distinct products to offer. She stressed the necessity of recognizing marketing and sales as non-negotiable soft skills, crucial for success in various aspects of life.

Senora Voice concluded, “Our leaders of tomorrow deserve to have these skills early. If that is one legacy we leave for them, then we’ve done well.”