Brandcom - Linking the future

Nigeria's three listed brewing companies have spent more than N220 billion on advertising and distribution in the first half of 2026, as rising competition for shelf space and consumer attention pushed marketing budgets sharply higher. The figure comes from an industry analysis presented on a financial markets podcast by nairametrics. The heavy spending coincided with the three companies posting a combined N1.4 trillion in revenue for the half year, up 7 per cent from N1.3 trillion in the same period of 2025. …

Meta has released a new open-weight artificial intelligence model, with founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg using the launch to call on US policymakers to ease restrictions on open-source AI so American firms can better compete with Chinese developers. The new model, named Muse Glimmer, was unveiled on Monday, August 10, 2026. Unlike Meta's larger flagship systems, it is deliberately compact, built to handle agentic tasks and capable of running on an ordinary Mac or PC fitted with a single graphics card. The design…

Steve Babaeko, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Creative Officer of X3M Ideas, will deliver the keynote address at the 2026 Annual General Meeting of the Media Independent Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MIPAN). Joining the conversation as speakers are; Tomi Ogunlesi, Divisional Head, Brand and Communication, Interswitch; Abisoye Oruye, Media Manager, FrieslandCampina Wamco; Chidinma Nwankwo, General Manager, Publicis Nourish; Stephen Onaivi, Managing Director, MediaReach OMD; Emmanuel Ante, Chief…

Kwara State University (KWASU) has emerged as the overall winner of the Student Creative Advertising Pitch Competition at the 4th Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) Advertising Industry Colloquium (AIC 4.0), held on August 6, 2026. The competition formed one of the highlights of the annual industry gathering, which was held under the theme, "The Future of Advertising: Roles of Platforms, People and Regulations." It featured tertiary institutions from across Nigeria competing with creative…

The Media Independent Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MIPAN) is set to hold its 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Friday, August 14, 2026, with industry leaders expected to deliberate on the future of media investment, innovation and sustainable growth. Scheduled to hold at Ogere Resort, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ogun State, the meeting will revolve around the theme, "Monetizing Tomorrow: Outpacing Disruption, Capturing Growth in the Next Era of Media." The theme reflects the growing need for…

The Minister of Information and National Orientation has said Nigeria has the potential to become Africa’s leading hub for responsible advertising, creative excellence and digital innovation. He urged stakeholders in the advertising ecosystem to embrace ethical practices, responsible regulation and innovation as artificial intelligence continues to reshape the industry. The Minister who was represented by Malam Jibrin Ndace, DG/CEO of Voice of Nigeria stated this in his opening address delivered at the Advertising…

Spotify has grown its global audience to 777 million monthly active users, including 300 million Premium subscribers, as the audio streaming giant continued to strengthen its position in the global digital entertainment market. The company announced this milestone while releasing its second-quarter 2026 financial results, highlighting sustained user growth across both its subscription and advertising-supported services. Operating in 184 markets worldwide, Spotify now offers listeners access to more than 100…

Dr Olalekan Fadolapo, DG, ARCON The Director-General of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, has stressed that collaboration among key stakeholders will be critical to shaping the future of Nigeria’s advertising industry amid rapid technological advancements. He said this while giving his welcome address at the Advertising Industry Colloquium 4.0 themed “The Future of Advertising: Role of Platforms, People and Regulation” and held on Thursday, 6th August, 2026 at D’Podium Event…