By Ibe Munachiso
• Prof. Ozoigbo, Dr. Sobowale, Obong Attah, Fabelusi, Dr. Joseph Mfon flanked by ICSP fellow
The Institute of Certified Sales Professionals (ICSP) at the weekend graduated 30 Postgraduate Professional Sales Diploma and conferred fellowship on 10 imminent Nigerians.
At the investiture ceremony with the theme “Fostering the Art of Being Outstanding”, 10 members and 19 associates were inducted.
The ceremony attracted the former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah, ICSP Chief Patron, Dr. Dele Sobowale, business partners of some of the awardees and family members.
The Institute graduated 30 Postgraduate Sales Diplomas who were presented with their certificates and certified as qualified as a professional sales person.
Five outstanding graduands including the best overall student were presented with plaques.
In his address, the President of ICSP, Arthur Ozoigbo described sales professionals as unsung heroes and outstanding people who put in their best in the discharge of their duties.
The new inductees were charged by Ozoigbo to keep the flag flying and remain worthy ambassadors of the Institute.
In their acceptance speeches, the fellows commended the institute for the recognition and they promised to support ICSP in different ways.
He lauded the Ps.D graduands for understanding the programme despite the shortcomings and promised to work hard to change the narrative and become active institute.
“Just imagine if our politicians can learn the act of sales, we will not have problems of corruption, bad leadership and budget padding,” he stressed.
In his remarks, Dr. Dele Sobowale charged the government that anything done to sell Nigeria to the World should be done professionally, stating, “we believe strongly in Nigeria.”
Sobowale also charged the new graduands and fellows to maintain high integrity of the profession as well as remain worthy ambassadors of the institute.
The guest speaker and former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah stressed that there are two approaches to sell the country to the outside World.
“We could look at selling the country as a possible destination to investors and tourists or look at selling Nigerian goods and services to the outside World.”
Obong Attah, who spoke on “Imperative of Selling Nigeria to the Outside World in the Post-2023 National Elections ERA, said those trying to sell Nigeria or its products to the World would need proper training.
“Whatever we want to offer must be of pristine quality and we must be always conscious of the fact that we have competitors and whomever we want to sell to has a choice,” he stated.
The highpoint of the ceremony was the investiture of ten new fellows of investiture, who were robed by ICSP President, Arthur Ozoigbo and supported by the acting Registrar, Bukunmi Fabelurin.