Vodacom pays a heartfelt tribute to Professor Kole Omotoso, a famend determine broadly often known as the face of Vodacom’s beloved ‘YeboGogo’ promoting marketing campaign, who handed away on Wednesday, July 19, 2023.
Professor Omotoso fondly known as “the Yebo Gogo man,” left an indelible mark on the hearts of most South Africans by way of Vodacom’s iconic adverts that promoted the model within the early Nineties and early 2000s.
Shameel Joosub, the CEO of Vodacom Group, expressed deep sorrow on the information of Professor Omotoso’s passing. He emphasised that the late professor was not solely a revered educational and playwright within the nation but additionally an iconic determine who performed an important function in elevating the model Vodacom by way of the modern ‘YeboGogo’ promoting marketing campaign, which earned quite a few accolades. Professor Omotoso’s legacy is profound, having performed a major function in firmly establishing the model Vodacom, with its deep African roots, within the nationwide consciousness. Mr. Joosub additionally prolonged his private heartfelt condolences to Professor Omotoso’s household.
Through the early Nineties, as democracy took maintain in South Africa and shortly after Vodacom was granted a license to function within the nation in 1994, Professor Omotoso took on the function of the face of its promoting campaigns. His picture dominated the promoting media panorama, making him some of the recognizable figures within the nation and symbolizing the evolving starting of a brand new South Africa.
Born on April 21, 1943, in Akure, Ondo state, Nigeria, Professor Omotoso turned a South African citizen in 1999. He married Marguerita Omotoso, an architect and concrete planner from Barbados, and so they had three kids, together with the gifted actor, director, and filmmaker Akin Omotoso, in addition to the achieved writer and architect Yewande Omotoso. The late professor studied at King’s School, Lagos, the College of Ibadan, and the College of Edinburgh.
Vodacom cherishes Prof. Omotoso’s marketing campaign, evoking feelings, and nostalgia, and fostering connections with clients. Folks will at all times cherish his impression and the recollections he leaves behind.