The Lagos International Advertising Festival (LAIF) has unveiled the jury leadership and first batch of jurors for its 2026 edition, as preparations gather pace for the annual celebration of creativity in Nigeria’s advertising industry.
Leading this year’s jury is Esosa Osagiede, Group Creative Director, Insight Publicis, who has been appointed Radio LAIF Jury President and overall Jury President.
For the Media LAIF category, Promise Oduh, Chief Operating Officer, French West & Central Africa, mediaReach OMD Nigeria, will serve as Jury President.
The festival has also announced professionals who will sit on some of the category juries.
Ayoade Aderoju, Director, Brand Management & Strategy at X3M Ideas, has been named a juror for the Digital LAIF category, while Onyebuchi Ugwumbah, Creative Director at MTN Nigeria, will serve in the Design LAIF category.
Other members announced include Olufunke Fajusigbe, Ayodeji Tobun, Managing Director of ibst_media, and Gabriel Olonisakin, Creative Director at Noah’s Ark.
The composition of the jury brings together professionals with experience across creative direction, brand strategy, media, digital advertising and communications, reflecting the range of disciplines represented at the festival.
The jury appointments are among the early announcements ahead of the 2026 LAIF Awards, with further details on the festival programme and participating categories expected as the event draws closer.
The 2026 edition, themed “Glitch to Great,” will bring together advertising, media, creative and marketing communications professionals to assess work competing across the festival’s various categories.
The “Glitch to Great” theme positions the 2026 festival around the idea of turning disruption and unexpected challenges into creative possibilities, a concept that speaks to an industry navigating rapid changes in technology, consumer behaviour and the way brands communicate.
LAIF remains one of Nigeria’s major platforms for recognising creative excellence within the advertising and marketing communications industry, bringing together agencies, brands and creative professionals to compete for recognition across multiple disciplines.
The festival will run from November 23 to 28, with the programme expected to culminate in the Nominees Party and LAIF Awards Gala, where winning entries will be recognised across the various categories.
With the jury now taking shape, attention will turn to the opening and closing dates for entries, as well as additional jury appointments and other details of the 2026 festival.
