The Brand Journalists Association of Nigeria (BJAN), a group of media specialists who cover activities of brands and the entire marketing communications industry in Nigeria, has recognized Steve Babaeko, the Group CEO of X3M Ideas, Access Bank, Airtel, FCCPC, others at its 11th Annual Brands & Marketing Conference and Awards.
The event which was themed “Private Public Partnership: Infrastructural Development Strategy for Government, Communities & Brands” took place last Friday. December 15, 2023 at Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Speaking specifically on why and how Babaeko won his category, the Chairman of the Association, Clara Okoro, who addressed all attendees. corporate executives, leading brand handlers and other top players in Marketing Communications and Media, said the jurors who did a painstaking analysis of reports on agencies and accomplishments of various practitioners in Nigeria in the year under review, could not but unanimous vote Babaeko, for achieving the unusual this year, and putting Nigeria on the world map with his exploits.
She said, “While appreciating our jurors for their painstaking work that ran into months of deliberations and assessment, I cannot agree less that Babaeko stands tall, not only in Nigeria but globally. Just recently, after many attempts by various Nigerian agencies, Mr. Babaeko agency brought the most recognized international award -the Cannes Award to Nigeria. It will interest you all that the award institution has been operating for 70 years without considering any Nigerian creative firm worthy of the award but Babaeko and his team made it happen in 2023. This is a milestone that cannot be overemphasized. On this note, I congratulate this creative czar and his team and wish them a more robust 2024,”
Steve Babaeko emerged the Practitioner of the year, Access Bank won the Sustainability Programme of the year, Airtel Nigeria won Telecoms Company of the Year, Fayrouz emerge Soft Drink of the Year, FCCPC got the Regulator of the Year award, Teksite got the PR Agency of the Year.
Others include Crystal Communications with OOH Company of the Year, Chris Wulff-Caeser emerge Marketing Director of the Year, BOVAS got Most Customer-Friendly Company, Digitas won Digital Agency the Year, Maxx Connection clinched the Experiential Agency of the Year.
Ogilvy got Creative Agency of the Year, WAW emerged as Detergent of the Year, Francis Ilesanmi (BOVAS) clinched Business Development Manager of the Year, Trophy won Alcoholic Beverage of the Year, Terra emerged as Seasoning of the Year, and Digisplash emerged as Best Young Digital Agency of the Year.