Nigeria’s ADVAN Awarded for Championing Better Marketing Locally By The World Federation of Advertisers

In recognition of its efforts to enhance the marketing industry, the Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN) has been honoured with a special award for its brief writing Proogrammeme during the Global Marketer Week in Toronto, organized by the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA).
The annual President’s Awards, a prestigious accolade which forms a part of the Global Marketer Week, was launched in 2010 by the WFA to celebrate exceptional initiatives spearheaded by national industry associations that contribute to positive change in the marketing industry and society at large.
This year’s winners were selected from an impressive pool of 27 initiatives submitted by 14 associations from WFA’s expansive 60-strong membership of national associations worldwide, according to the WFA.
ADVAN’s visionary brief writing training and competition has been singled out for its remarkable impact in addressing one of the most persistent and pervasive challenges confronting the marketing ecosystem – poor briefing, which often leads to ineffective and lackluster creative output. The Programme seeks to infuse new and innovative creative methods into the art of brief writing, ultimately elevating the efficiency and effectiveness of marketing campaigns across the nation.
Alongside ADVAN’s special recognition, five other outstanding industry initiatives from around the world were honoured at the prestigious event. These included “Oneframe” by Union des marques in France, a standardized and open-source carbon calculation framework for measuring the greenhouse gas footprint of marketing campaigns; “The NMO Listening Survey” by bvA in the Netherlands, a new method of audio audience measurement enabling more targeted audio campaigns; “Campus Marketing” by Sveriges Annonsörer in Sweden, a training platform designed to help marketing teams gain new knowledge and implement strategies; “Responsible Retail Media Framework” by ISBA in the UK, a framework to standardize retail media measurement; and “AIMM Diverse Media GrowthFronts” by ANA in the USA, an initiative to gain greater equity in the media space by increasing visibility, access, collaboration, development, and investment in diverse media.
Speaking on the awards, Raja Rajamannar, WFA president and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Mastercard remarks, “Our national associations are doing incredible work on behalf of their brand members – and the broader marketing industry. Each of these six local initiatives exemplifies the power of collaboration to tackle big issues facing our industry and establish best practices for marketers everywhere.”

Fidelity Bank Renovates Nasarawa PHC Clinic, Donates Water Facility

As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc, has renovated the Primary Healthcare Clinic along the Workers Village in the Tudun Amba Community of Lafia Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

The bank also provided water facilities to ameliorate issues of water scarcity being experienced in the community in recent times.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the Divisional Head, Brand and Communication Plc, Fidelity Bank, Meksley Nwagboh, said the dignity of every human person is a shared responsibility. The bank decided to embark on the project as a means of improving the living condition of people in the community and as part of the bank’s social responsibility to its host community.

Expressing gratitude to the leadership of the community for giving the bank the opportunity to execute the project, Nwagboh said, “What we are doing today is not different from what we have been doing in communities, local governments and states across the country over the years. As a socially responsible organisation, we take it upon ourselves to impact our host communities positively through developmental initiatives such as these.

“On behalf of the management and staff of Fidelity Bank, I want to say thank you to everyone who made it possible for us to touch the lives of the people positively in this community and we remain committed to playing our part in helping individuals grow, thrive and prosper”.

On his part, the Honourable Commissioner of Health, Nasarawa State, Gaza Gwamna, while commending Fidelity Bank for the donation of a water facility and the renovation works at the Primary Healthcare Clinic, reiterated the state government’s commitment to continue to support commercial banks to boost the economy of the state.

The Commissioner who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, John Damina, further called on the Nasarawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency to utilise the upgraded facility with care to encourage the bank and other private investors to continue to support the less-privileged people of the state.

“I want to use this opportunity to call on the management of the NAPHDA to ensure proper utilization of this facility for the good of the host community and beyond. This will go a long way in encouraging other private sector players to extend the same gesture to other communities in the state,” he said.

Ranked as one of the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank is a full-fledged customer commercial bank with over 8.5 million customers serviced across its 251 business offices in Nigeria and the United Kingdom as well as on digital banking channels.

The bank has won multiple local and international awards including the Export Finance Bank of the Year at the 2023 BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards, the Best Payment Solution Provider Nigeria 2023 and Best SME Bank Nigeria 2022 by the Global Banking and Finance Awards; Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2023; and Best Domestic Private Bank in Nigeria by the Euromoney Global Private Banking Awards 2023.

Presidency, Leadway Assurance Partner NASRE Media Foundation To Support Journalists With Challenges

NASRE Media Foundation, the humanitarian arm of the Nigerian Association of Social and Resourceful Editors (NASRE), extended support to media practitioners facing health or financial challenges, as well as the families of bereaved journalists, on Tuesday, May 14, 2024.

Ably supported by Leadway Assurance, one of Nigeria’s leading insurance companies specializing in life-business coverage and prompt claims payment, and the office of the Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagements, South West, the Foundation provided cash and grains to selected beneficiaries in the first phase.

Mr. Omodele Adigun, a former Deputy Business Editor at The Sun Newspaper, who is currently battling partial stroke, received cash and grains for health support. Mrs. Esther Peter Thomas, wife of the late Peter Thomas, a renowned entertainment editor and publicist for the former Mo’Hits Records, also received cash and grains support.

Similarly, Mrs. Adewole, the widow of the late Qudus Adewole, publisher of Ebony Media who passed away in 2021, received educational support and grains on behalf of their daughter, Yesmee, who was born shortly after Adewole’s death. In the same vein, Mr. Bolu received equivalent support on behalf of Peter, the only surviving son of the late Foluso Samuel, who worked with Encomium Magazine but passed away in 2015. Foluso Samuel’s wife and two of their three children have also died, leaving Peter, a JSS student, in Mr. Bolu’s care.

In a unanimous voice, the recipients prayed for the continued success of NASRE Media Foundation, Leadway Assurance, and the Presidency.

With discernible emotions and tears in their eyes, Mr. Adigun, Mrs. Esther Peter Thomas, Mrs. Adewole, and Mr. Bolu described NASRE as a dynamic group of experienced media professionals whose efforts are highly commendable. They prayed for the continued success of NASRE Media Foundation, Leadway Assurance, and the office of the Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagements, South West.

In an earlier remark, the President of NASRE and NASRE Media Foundation, Comrade Femi Oyewale, assured the recipients of continued support within available resources. He noted that NASRE Media Foundation was initiated to support media practitioners facing challenges. Stressing the need for support, Oyewale called on corporate organizations, public and private institutions, and individuals to support NASRE Media Foundation in whatever way possible.

NASRE Media Foundation Supports Journalists Facing Challenges

“Media work is hazardous. We take the highest form of risks. We are on the road even in the middle of the night, ensuring that governments and institutions’ actions are anchored in truth for the overall benefit of citizens and taxpayers. The risks we embrace daily take a toll on our health, and when most of us are either deceased or down with ailments, nobody cares for us. These are part of the reasons we set up this Foundation to provide hope for colleagues in the face of hopelessness,” he explained.

Oyewale emphasized that the support extended to the four beneficiaries is just a small step given the large number of media practitioners on NASRE Media Foundation’s list who have truly pathetic cases and need support. “We are not going to rest on our oars. We have a long list of journalists and families of late journalists who need help. Some of the cases are really pathetic. We are committed to this noble cause. This is just the first phase,” Oyewale assured.

“I thank NASRE members for their commitment and dedication. I thank Leadway Assurance Plc and the office of the Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagements in South West for their support. We couldn’t have done this without you,” he appreciated.

“I call on corporate organizations, public and private institutions, and individuals to team up with NASRE Media Foundation in supporting journalists facing challenges to minimize the suffering associated with the job,” Oyewale, who was represented at the event by Idumonza Isidahomhen, Vice President of NASRE, requested.