The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has honoured industry veterans and practitioners at its 2026 Special Recognition Awards (ASRA), recognising their contributions to the growth and development of Nigeria’s advertising industry.

The ceremony held on Friday night at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

The theme of the award was “An Evening of Many Honours.”

The ARCON Director-General, Dr Olalekan Fadolapo, said the awards were designed to recognise individuals, organisations and agencies for outstanding performance, professionalism, innovation and contributions to the advertising ecosystem.

He said the initiative was designed to complement the council’s regulatory responsibilities by celebrating good practices and encouraging professional standards.

He stated, “The awards is industry-driven, with a committee comprising senior practitioners with credible and unblemished records to ensure that the recognition maintained the integrity and stature expected of an industry benchmark.

“The initiative would also document the historical evolution of Nigerian advertising, including milestones from the indigenisation decree and professionalisation of the industry to the emergence of specialised agencies and the transformation of media functions.

“Looking at the advertising ecosystem, there is so much happening and simply recognising compliance in the vetting process would not be enough.

“The committee suggested that we should also recognise other areas of relevance, including individuals and organisations that have contributed significantly to the growth and development of the ecosystem.”

He said the initial plan was to introduce compliance awards, particularly around vetting, which he described as one of the most critical elements of ARCON’s regulatory oversight.

He stated, “Awards are extremely important because we need to continuously recognise people who have done well in different areas. The initiative reflected the need to complement regulation with recognition for those who had helped advance the industry.”

Chairman of the ASRA Planning Committee, Yinka Adebayo, said the selection process included nominations, eligibility screening, technical assessment, public voting, jury review and final ratification.

He added that an independent audit firm was engaged to support the verification process and promote transparency in determining the award recipients.

“The awards are structured around four categories:l which include Advertising Compliance, Public Sector Recognition, Private Sector Recognition and Individual Recognition.

“The Advertising Compliance category covers advertisers, brands and practitioners that demonstrate adherence to advertising standards and the industry’s vetting process.

“The Public Sector Recognition category focuses on public communication, community mobilisation, stakeholder engagement and social impact campaigns, while the Private Sector Recognition category covers consumer engagement and sponsorship marketing.

 “The Individual Recognition category honours industry pioneers and professionals whose contributions have helped shape Nigeria’s marketing communications sector.” he added.

The recipients of the award in various categories were Peak, who won in the food category; Airtel in Fintech category and Fidelity Bank in the banking sector.

Lekki Gardens emerged winner in the real estate category, while the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) won in university education.

Coca-Cola won in the non-alcoholic beverage category, while Chicken Republic emerged winner in the fast-food restaurant category.

Others awarded were Simeon Olaghere, recognised posthumously for his contributions to outdoor advertising in Nigeria.

His professional contributions included helping to develop the experiential marketing sector and supporting the growth of Nigeria’s marketing communications industry.

Olufunmilayo Onabolu was recognised for his contributions to experiential marketing, brand activation, advertising and integrated marketing communications.

He founded Centa Group in 1996, developing it into an integrated marketing communications network with services spanning advertising, public relations, experiential marketing, content creation and media production.

Olu Falomo was also honoured for his contributions to advertising practice and the development of the industry.

Prof. Osaren Emokpae was recognised for his pioneering contributions to the advertising industry, particularly in media independence and professional development.

Mr Emokpae championed the formation of the Media Independent Practitioners Association of Nigeria, helping to advance the role of independent media practitioners in the advertising ecosystem.

(NAN)