ADVAN honours industry titans @ 13th award edition
By Felicia Nwosu
The Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN) brought life and excitement to the marketing world with its 13th African Awards for Marketing Excellence, themed “Controlled Chaos: Mastering Marketing in a Hyper-Connected World.”
The prestigious annual event held in Lagos celebrated outstanding brands, industry titans and personalities who are pushing boundaries in diverse fields with various award categories.
key highlight of this year’s edition was the debut of the highly anticipated Industry Leadership Category, introduced to recognize and celebrate corporate titans who have significantly shaped Nigeria’s business landscape. Honourees included Abubakar Suleiman, MD of Sterling Bank, for his leadership in financial innovation; Dr. Stella Chinyelu Okoli, MD of Emzor Pharmaceuticals, for her contributions to the pharmaceutical sector; and Mudiaga Clement Enajemo, founder of Mudi Africa, for his influence in fashion entrepreneurship. Others recognized were Chief Diana Chen, Chairman of GIC Motors; Chief (Dr.) Anthony Aletor, Vice Chairman of Capital Express Assurance Limited; Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group; and Barr. Allen Ifechukwu Onyema, CEO of Air Peace Limited, for their outstanding roles in driving Nigeria’s economic growth, amongst other notable business leaders.
The event was graced by the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, who delivered a compelling speech emphasizing the transformative power of strategic communication and storytelling in driving economic diversification and digital transformation.
She highlighted the government’s unwavering commitment to enhancing the ease of doing business, fostering innovation, and creating an enabling environment where brands can thrive and contribute meaningfully to national development.
Speaking on the theme, ADVAN President Osamede Uwubanmwen referenced data from the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA) to highlight global trends in artificial intelligence (AI) adoption in marketing.
He noted that 75% of companies worldwide are already integrating generative AI into their marketing strategies or plan to do so soon, while 80% of multinational brand owners have concerns about how agencies deploy AI on their behalf. He also underscored the pressing need for Nigeria to develop local AI data to inform industry practices and decision-making. The president also emphasised that regulation of the industry should be democratised as he expressed concern over the absence of a fully functional regulatory council for the sector. Meanwhile, speaking on the award entries, ADVAN CEO/Executive Director Ediri Ose-Ediale revealed the edition witnessed a large number of entries,judged by cerebral marketing professionals across various categories. She praised the juries for their thorough evaluation process, ensuring that only the most deserving brands and professionals were recognized. The ceremony also recognized outstanding achievements across various marketing disciplines. Terra Seasoning emerged as the winner in the seasoning category, followed by Gino Seasoning in second place, while Peak Milk secured the third position.
Indomie claimed the prestigious Brand of the Year title, with Milo coming in second and Amstel securing third place.
In the Campaign of the Year category, Lush Hair took the top spot, with Golden Terra and Airtel following in second and third positions, respectively.
Indomie also triumphed in the Consumer Promotion category, with Smirnoff taking second place and Onga securing third.
The Best Use of AI award went to 9 Mobile, followed by Lush Hair in second place and Leadway Pension in third.
Colgate won the Experiential category, with Onga taking the second position and Mamado finishing third.
For Brand Extension, Jumbo Chicken claimed first place, while Goldberg and Dettol secured second and third positions, respectively and several other brands who also secured their positions in other categories.
Notably, Abimbola Mohammed, Senior Reporter with MARKETING EDGE, was named Brand Journalist of the Year, solidifying her reputation as a distinguished voice in the industry.
With its grand celebrations and recognition of top marketing professionals and brands, the 2025 ADVAN African Awards for Marketing Excellence reinforced the association’s commitment to industry advocacy, professional growth, and marketing innovation in Nigeria.
RECOMMENDED ARTICLES
Comment
No comments found.