The Advertisers Association of Nigeria will host the 2026 edition of the African Awards for Marketing Excellence on 28 March at the MUSON Centre in Lagos, bringing together marketing and business leaders from across the continent.
The ceremony is expected to serve as a platform for recognising outstanding marketing campaigns while fostering industry dialogue and professional collaboration.
According to a statement by the organisers, this year’s edition marks a significant milestone in the evolution of the awards, with the introduction of an international panel of judges for the first time. The move reflects ADVAN’s effort to align the awards with global standards and strengthen credibility in evaluating marketing excellence across Africa.
The international jury includes Mounir Jazouli, Chief Communications and Institutional Relations Officer at the Bank of Africa, Morocco; Brian Yuyi, Chief Executive Officer of the Marketing Association of South Africa; and Emmanuela Milne, a research consultant at Revelator Research Inc., United States.
ADVAN said the inclusion of global experts underscores its commitment to adopting world-class assessment practices while elevating the awards as a continental benchmark for marketing innovation and impact.
The international judges will work alongside a local panel drawn from academia and industry, including Bolajoko Dixon-Ogbechi, Professor of Marketing and Decision Sciences; Aderemi Ademilua of Covenant University’s Business Management Department.
Abidemi Junaid, Director and Lead, Creative Domain, at Kantar; Toruka Osadunkwu, Director at Marketing Heritage Limited; and Zion Rufus, Vice-President, Communications and Events, at ADMARP.
Organisers noted that the blend of global and local expertise is designed to strengthen the integrity and depth of the evaluation process and reinforce confidence in the awards’ outcomes.
Widely regarded as one of Africa’s flagship marketing recognition platforms, the ADVAN African Awards for Marketing Excellence celebrates creativity, strategic execution and measurable impact across industries shaping the continent’s marketplace.
The 2026 ceremony will feature a keynote address by Obafemi Banigbe, Chief Executive Officer of T2Mobile, who is expected to share insights on emerging trends and opportunities within the evolving marketing landscape.
In addition to recognising outstanding campaigns, ADVAN will honour three industry leaders for their contributions to business growth and leadership: Olusegun Alebiosu, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of First Bank of Nigeria; Girish Sharma, Chief Executive Officer of Guinness Nigeria; and Karl Toriola, Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria.
ADVAN said the awards aim to go beyond recognition by inspiring innovation, strengthening professional networks and driving growth within Africa’s marketing ecosystem.
