Brand Communicator ‘Maintains Steeze’ As Toyosi Olajide Emerges ADVAN Journalist Of The Year
Brand Communicator, Nigeria’s most authoritative and multi-award-winning brands, marketing, and communications journal, has once again established its reputation for journalistic excellence, particularly in the integrated marketing communications industry at the 2025 edition of the Advertising Association of Nigeria (ADVAN) Marketing Excellence Awards, as it secured yet another prestigious accolade following the emergence of its reporter, Toyosi Olajide, as Brand Journalist of the Year.
The annual ADVAN Awards, renowned for celebrating innovation and excellence within Nigeria’s marketing and advertising landscape, was held at the Admiralty Conference Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. The prestigious event recognized exceptional marketing campaigns, outstanding brands, and distinguished professionals within the marketing communications industry who have raised the bar of excellence with their work in 2024.
The ceremony was attended by a distinguished audience, including top marketing professionals, government officials, industry leaders, and CEOs of companies; making it a key gathering for Africa’s marketing elite. Among the special guests was the Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, alongside other key stakeholders who commended the ingenuity and resilience demonstrated by brands and professionals in advancing the marketing industry in Nigeria.
This year’s ADVAN Awards centred on the theme “Controlled Chaos: Mastering Marketing in a Hyper-Connected World.” The theme reflects the rapidly evolving marketing landscape, where brands must navigate fragmented consumer attention, unpredictable trends, and overwhelming digital content.
The rigorous selection process for the ADVAN Awards winners was overseen by a distinguished panel of judges, comprising seasoned professionals and academics with extensive expertise in marketing and communications. The panel included Prof. Bolajoko Nkemdinim Dixon-Ogbechi, Professor of Marketing & Decision Science and Head of the Department of Business Administration at the University of Lagos; Stanislaus Martins, President of the Association of Digital Marketing Professionals; Dr. Ikechukwu Obiaya, Dean II at the School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University; Toruka Osadunkwu, Brand and Marketing Communications Expert; Kanayo Bardi, Aigle Solutions Expert for Nigeria & Ghana at Kantar; and Saidat Lawal Mohammed, Head of Executive Education at the China/Europe International Business School.
Their collective expertise ensured that only the most deserving brands, campaigns, and professionals were recognized for their outstanding contributions to the industry. Some of the biggest winners of the night included Amstel Malta, Indomie, Lush Hair, Peak Milk, Nutri Milk, Colgate, Gino, Addmie, and Nutrify, among others.
With Toyosi Olajide’s latest win, Brand Communicator continues its impressive streak of producing award-winning journalists in Nigeria’s marketing communications space. Mr. Ntia Usukuma, Editor of the magazine has been a one time winner, clinching the honours in 2013. The publication’s legacy of excellence is on a streak since 2019 when Azeez Disu, who served as a Senior Correspondent at the time, won the award, followed by Jeremiah Agada, Brand Communicator’s Deputy Editor, who claimed the title in 2021 and then reclaimed it in 2023.
ADVAN’s recent decision to shift the awards’ timeline from the last quarter of the year to the first quarter made this year’s edition unique, and Toyosi Olajide’s victory marked her as the first recipient of the award under this new arrangement.
Reacting to the latest win, an elated Joshua Ajayi, Publisher of Brand Communicator, reaffirmed the publication’s commitment to journalistic excellence. “I am incredibly proud of Toyosi Olajide and the entire Brand Communicator team. Retaining this title since 2019 is no small feat, and it speaks volumes about the talent, dedication, and expertise that define our newsroom. Brand Communicator boasts some of the best writers and analysts in the Nigerian marketing and communications space. Excellence is not just an aspiration for us—it is our culture. We are honoured to be recognized once again by the industry for the work we do. We will continue pushing boundaries to set even higher standards,” he said.
Ajayi further added that Brand Communicator remains committed to shaping the marketing landscape in Nigeria through insightful reporting, in-depth analysis, and thought leadership.
Toyosi Olajide is a distinguished journalist and marketing communications specialist with an extensive track record of industry-shaping reportage. With about five years covering the integrated marketing communications sector, with her work influencing conversations and trends in the industry.
Her journalistic prowess has not gone unnoticed. In addition to clinching the ADVAN Brand Journalist of the Year award, she was also nominated for the 2024 Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) LaPRIGA Awards in the PR Journalist of the Year category. She was equally a finalist for the prestigious Nestlé Media Merit Awards.
Beyond award recognitions, Toyosi’s work has been instrumental in shaping narratives within the industry. Her in-depth features, exclusive interviews, and analytical reports have provided a platform for brands to share their success stories, examined key industry trends, and amplified the voices of professionals shaping the sector’s future.