The President, Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN), Osamede Uwubanmwen, has stressed need for the nation’s advertising industry to have an established council.
Speaking at the 13th ADVAN African Awards for Marketing Excellence 2025 held in Lagos, he noted, “there is no Council only a Director General. The Council has all the associations represented.”
In addition, he said the council would “ensure true democracy in the affairs of Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON). The association can approach the Council with its problems and issues. The Council will enhance collaboration in the industry.”
To him, “the ADVAN Awards is truly the Oscars of Marketing, and it brings together the finest talent and the most innovative campaigns in the industry.” He also highlighted that “2025 is a pivotal year for Nigerian marketing, with opportunities to grow and innovate.’
He said this year’s ADVAN Awards theme, “Controlled chaos: Mastering marketing in a hyper-connected World” reflects the rapidly evolving marketing landscape, where brands must navigate fragmented consumer attention, unpredictable trends, and overwhelming digital content.
In her keynote address, Minister Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, emphasised the awards as a powerful chance to honour outstanding excellence and leadership in the marketing and advertising sectors across Nigeria and Africa.
To her, “the ADVAN Awards represents creativity, hard work, and the immense positive impact of strategic communications and storytelling in driving customer engagement, economic growth, and fostering industry excellence.”
Oduwole hinted at the ongoing transformation within the Nigerian economy, underscoring the critical importance of the marketing and advertising industries in driving the country’s digital transformation and economic diversification.
She added, “as Nigeria continues its journey towards economic diversification, we see the advertising and creative sector playing a central role in fostering global competitiveness, driving job creation, and contributing to growth.”
Oduwole also expressed her pride in the work consistently achieved by the sector’s visionaries. “The dynamic creativity and energy of Nigeria’s brands and marketing storytellers bring forth new opportunities, and we must push forward boldly, unlocking future potential.”
Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director, ADVAN, said in total, over 200 entries were received for the 2025 awards, with an increase in the number of submissions from previous years, highlighting the sector’s growing vibrancy. Ediri, took the stage to reveal the categories for the awards, which included Campaign of the Year, Brand of the Year, Best Use of AI, Innovation, Future Leaders of the Year, with a special industry-specific category to support leading brands
One of the highlights of the evening is the recognition in the Industry Leadership category, which recognised outstanding individuals who have contributed to all round development across faucets o-f the Nigerian society.
