Momentum is building strongly across Nigeria’s marketing ecosystem as the Advertisers Association of Nigeria prepares to stage the 2026 edition of the ADVAN African Awards for Marketing Excellence, a ceremony that is already attracting continental attention following the introduction of its first-ever international judging panel.

Scheduled for March 28, 2026, at the MUSON Centre, the event will bring together senior marketing decision-makers, brand custodians, business executives, and communication professionals for an evening designed to recognise performance, celebrate leadership, and deepen industry collaboration.

Importantly, ADVAN is not simply hosting another awards night this year. Instead, the association is deliberately expanding the credibility and reach of the platform by inviting respected global professionals to participate directly in the evaluation process. Through this step, the awards are clearly moving into a stronger continental and international positioning framework.

Leading this international review panel are Mounir Jazouli, Chief Communications and Institutional Relations Officer at Bank of Africa; Brian Yuyi, Chief Executive Officer of the Marketing Association of South Africa; and Emmanuela Milne of Revelator Research Inc..

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By bringing these voices into the judging structure, ADVAN is actively strengthening transparency, broadening professional perspectives, and aligning its recognition standards more closely with global marketing benchmarks 🌍.

At the same time, the association is reinforcing the evaluation process locally by assembling an experienced panel drawn from both academia and industry practice.

The Nigerian judging team includes Bolajoko Nkemdinim Dixon-Ogbechi, Professor of Marketing and Decision Sciences; Aderemi Victor Ademilua of Covenant University; Abidemi Junaid of Kantar; Toruka Osadunkwu of Marketing Heritage Ltd; and Zion Rufus of Association of Digital Marketing Professionals.

Together, both panels are expected to deliver a more rigorous, balanced, and forward-looking judging process that reflects both global standards and local realities.

Beyond recognising campaigns and brands, the ceremony will also create space for strategic reflection on the future of marketing across Africa.

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During the evening, Obafemi Banigbe, Chief Executive Officer of T2Mobile, will deliver the keynote address. Through this session, he is expected to highlight emerging opportunities for brands willing to rethink engagement models, embrace innovation, and respond decisively to evolving consumer expectations across the continent.

Significantly, ADVAN will also spotlight executive leadership impact across major sectors of the economy by recognising three chief executives whose organisations continue to shape market direction and business performance in Nigeria.

Those to be honoured include Olusegun Alebiosu of First Bank of Nigeria, Karl Toriola of MTN Nigeria, and Girish Sharma of Guinness Nigeria.

Through these recognitions, ADVAN is clearly acknowledging leadership influence that continues to drive sectoral growth, strengthen organisational resilience, and shape competitive strategy across banking, telecommunications, and manufacturing.

Meanwhile, the awards platform itself remains central to ADVAN’s broader commitment to advancing marketing professionalism in Nigeria.

Year after year, the initiative actively identifies campaigns that translate insight into execution and strategy into measurable outcomes.

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At the same time, it continues to encourage marketers to raise standards, deepen consumer understanding, and strengthen brand relevance across industries.

Equally important, the 2026 edition is expected to serve as a convergence point for ideas and partnerships. By bringing together professionals from multiple sectors in one venue, ADVAN is deliberately creating opportunities for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and stronger industry alignment 🤝.

As anticipation continues to grow ahead of the ceremony, the association is clearly positioning this year’s event not just as a celebration of excellence but as a continental meeting point for marketing leadership.

Through the introduction of an international judging structure, executive-level recognitions, and expanded stakeholder engagement, ADVAN is actively reinforcing its role as the collective voice representing advertisers and marketing decision-makers across Nigeria and beyond.

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