Popular Ekiti born Entrepreneur and Social media personality Ogunlade Mayowa popularly known as Mayor of Ekiti has sparked reactions online after showcasing his personal brand and businesses on a digital billboard in Times Square, New York.
The entrepreneur, @Ekitipikin, shared footage of the billboard via his X handle highlighting his journey from Ekiti to Abuja and now to international visibility. The billboard features his image alongside the tagline, “From Ekiti to the World, We Build Legacies,” while promoting his businesses and personal brand.
However, the display has sparked mixed reactions online, with some Nigerians questioning the commercial logic behind advertising an Abuja based gym and entertainment businesses to an audience in New York.
Some commenters therefore viewed the Times Square appearance more as a personal branding achievement and social media flex than a advertising campaign aimed at attracting customers
Others, thus, defended the move as a form of international brand positioning, arguing that visibility in one of the world’s most recognisable advertising locations can contribute to credibility, prestige and long-term brand awareness even when the immediate customers are based elsewhere.
The billboard has also attracted criticism over its creative execution, with some social media users describing the advertisement as visually underwhelming compared with the highly elaborate displays surrounding it.
Despite the backlash, the entrepreneur appears to regard the moment as a milestone in his journey, presenting it as a progression from Ekiti to Abuja and ultimately to New York.
By Musekir Faisat Omolara
