…inaugurates new LAIF Board
The Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN), the umbrella body for advertising professionals in Nigeria, has announced the 18th edition of the Lagos Advertising and Ideas Festival (LAIF), which will hold from the 9th to the 18th November, 2023. The President of the association, Steve Babaeko, made the announcement at a Press Conference held in Lagos on Saturday, September 9, 2023.
The association also inaugurated a new management board for the Awards. The new members include Jay Chukwuemeka, Henry Akpede, Raphael Idu, Idiare Atimomo, Colette Otusheso, Funmibi Fayo Adeleye, Oyindamola Fakile, Dolapo Ogunbambo, Jumoke Akinyele and Babs Fagade. The new board will preside over the affairs of the LAIF Awards for the next three years.
In his remarks at the Press Conference, Babaeko noted that the LAIF Awards remains a veritable platform to celebrate creative excellence and showcase the exemplary works of agencies in the industry. He said this year’s award is quite symbolic as it coincides with the 50th Anniversary celebration of the advertising professional body in Nigeria.
He commended the members of previous LAIF boards for their efforts over the past 17 years to keep the tradition going and ensure that the pipeline of talents in the industry keeps growing.
In his remarks, the newly inaugurated Chairman of the LAIF Management Board, Jay Chukwuemeka, assured that this year’s edition would be unique and more inclusive as the board is determined to encourage more member agencies to participate.
According to him, the theme for this year’s edition, ‘A new LAIF’, signifies a pivotal moment in the industry’s evolution as it hopes to celebrate the hard work, passion and dedication of creatives around the country.
While acknowledging the brilliant works of the previous board, he noted that the present leadership is committed to bringing about a lot of transformation that harmonizes the LAIF brand with the clear vision of its founders and future goals.
“We are committed to upholding the best global practices while preserving our heritage beyond the past and present. One of our primary objectives this year is sensitization and inclusion. We aim to increase participation in LAIF from more member agencies of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria in 2023. Our goal is to craft a credible and inclusive event that will not only celebrate our industry from within but also position us better externally”, he said.
He stated that, aside from creating a new category to recognize and celebrate the clients this year, the board is considering bringing agencies from neighbouring West African countries on board soon to promote inclusivity and regional appeal.
“We are introducing a category for Marketing Directors/Departments on the client’s side, with the long-term aim of increasing participation, as we all know that our clients give us the platform to exhibit our genius. We believe being nominated in LAIF is no easy feat. Hence, we will be rewarding nominated Agencies moving forward with the prestigious LAIF STAR Badge,” he said.
Also speaking, the immediate past chairman of the LAIF Management Board, Lanre Adisa, expressed great satisfaction with the awards’ impact on the industry over the last 17 years. He looks forward to a beautiful experience at the forthcoming edition.
“I feel very happy and proud to be part of the awards scheme that has brought a lot of innovations to the advertising profession. I am happy to have contributed my quota in raising the bar for the awards. LAIF Awards will always be topmost on my mind,” Adisa said.
Award entries for it’s participating agencies will open on the 18th of September, 2023. The LAIF Festival Week is schedule to hold from the 9th of November, through the 18th of November, 2023 culminating with the LAIF award night on the 18th of November, 2023.
