Three industry giants in Nigeria’s marketing communications industry will be specially recognised for their evergreen outstanding achievements in the last decade.

The special industry evening parley convened by Goddie Ofose, one of Nigeria’s top brand analyst will hold on March 6, 2020 at Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Ikeja, Lagos with the theme, ‘Advertising and the Power of the Nigerian Story’.

The three industry achievers are Udeme Ufot, CEO/GMD SO&U and former Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) chair; Lolu Akinwunmi, GMD, Prima Garner/former APCON chairman; and Nn’Emeka Maduegbuna, CEO, C & F and foremost PR practitioner.

According to Tolulope Ogunjobi, Chairman Industry Recognition Awards Committee, the pedigrees of Udeme, Lolu and Nn’Emeka in the advertising and PR industry respectively stood them out though there were few others who merited the laurel but the committee could only limit itself to the three most outstanding.

“We want to congratulate all the winners of the awards and the industry for doing great things in 2019 and the last decade. We believe that this 2020 and the new decade will be greater,” he said.

Apart from the three lifetime awards, and the best Ad of the decade award that goes to Airtel’s ‘Data is Life’ commercial, 16 other categories will be rewarded for great performances.

Ogunjobi explained that all other recipients were arrived based on key performances during the year under review.

“These recipients indeed added something extra to their organisations and their personal career ladder, that is why they were selected among the pool of nominees.

“For instance, we had difficulties arriving at the Ad of the decade but the Ad of the decade couldn’t have gone to any other but ‘Airtel Nigeria’s Data is Life’, so this explains how Airtel’s ‘Life without Data’ featuring Gabriel Afolayan TVC by Noah’s Ark emerged as our Ad of the decade.”

Preceding the awards segment is a special interactive summit at the same venue that would be hosted by Gboyega Akosile, Chief Press Secretary to Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who is the Special Guest of Honour at this special event.

The lead paper for the evening will be presented by Mr. Lanre Adisa, Chief Creative Officer, Noah’s Ark Limited.

Meanwhile members of the panel who will discuss the Adisa’s paper include Mr. Onyekachi Onubogu, CEO, Frutta Juice and Services; Mr. Amaechi Okobi, Group Head, Communications and External Affairs, Access Bank Plc; Mr. Emeka Oparah, Vice President, CSR and Communications, Airtel Nigeria; Mr. Martin Mabutho, Chief Commercial Officer, Multichoice Nigeria; and Mr. Jaiye Israel Opayemi, Chief Executive Officer, Chain Reactions/President, Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria.

Others include Dr. Felix King Eiremiokhae, Chief Executive Officer, Oracle Experience/convener The Startups Africa; Mrs. Ijedi Iyoha, acting Registrar/CEO, APCON; Mr. Odion Aleobua, CEO, Modion Communications; and Mr Lekan Lawal as the moderator for the segment.

The whole package, according to Goddie Ofose, the convener, was designed "to bring together industry leaders that I have interacted with over the years in the quest to rev up conversations that will move the Nigerian Marketing and Communications industry forward."

The programme, which is scheduled to be an annual event, will attract stakeholders in Nigeria’s marketing communications industry, corporate organisations, young practitioners and students from selected universities and other higher institutions in the country.

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