By Dipo Olowookere
Over the weekend, movers and shakers of the branding and advertising industry converged in Lagos for the 2016 edition of ADVAN Awards for Marketing Excellence.
The glamorous ceremony, which precisely took place on Saturday, October 29, 2016 at the Shell Hall, Muson Center Onikan, saw Coca-Cola, Indomie emerging the biggest winners.
Indomie was named winner of the ‘New Brand/Brand Revitalisation’ award as well as the most sought-after Brand of the year award.
Coca-Cola grabbed five awards at the occasion, picking the ‘Digital/Social Media Marketing’, ‘Innovation’ and ‘Experiential Marketing’ awards.
Also, Stanbic IBTC won the ‘Corporate Social Responsibility’ award, Heineken’s’ Shape your City campaign won the Campaign of the Year award, Guinness Every Minute Made of Black’s campaign picked the ‘Consumer Promotion’ award and Mr Dickson Akinwunmi emerged Brand Journalist of the year.
Speaking at the prestigious occasion, ADVAN President, Mr David Okeme, urged government to work hand in hand with the private sector, because according to him that is the fastest way to get the country out of recession.
Also, CEO of Airtel Nigeria, Mr Segun Ogunsanya, stressed on the need for brands to aggressively incorporate digital as a core part of their marketing communications strategy, adding that the digital media has the power to make or mar brands.
“A video on YouTube can make or damage a brand,” he said.
“Phone is the first and last thing most people touch; therefore it is an excellent tool for talking to customers. It is the strongest channel to reach youth, because digital is the only language they understand,” the Airtel CEO added.
Below is the full list of winners:
Brand Manager of the Year
Won by Indomie Brand Manager “Mr. Amber Yadav”
Brand of the Year
Winner: Indomie
2nd place: Cococola
3rd place: Heineken
Campaign of Year
Winner: Heineken’s’ Shape your City campaign
2nd place: Airtel Smart Connect 2.0/Lord’s Dry Gin “The Look from distraction”
3rd place: P&G Always “#MyFutureStartsToday”
Digital/Social media Marketing
Winner: Coco-Cola Share A Coke 2
2nd place: Indomie Bellefull
3rd place: Pepsi Longthroat
Public Sector
Winner: Delta State
New Brand/Brand Revitalisation
Winner: Indomie Bellefull
2nd place: Coca-Cola 5 Alive Pulpy
3rd place: Etisalat Clique World
Consumer Promotion
Winner: Guinness Every Minute Made of Black
2nd place: Nestle Milo building Champs
3rd place: 33 Export Friendship day
Innovation
Winner: Coca-Cola 5 Alive Pulpy
2nd place: Guinness African Special
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
Winner: Stanbic IBTC Together for a Living initiative
2nd place: Etisalat ETEP
3rd place: Life beer “Life Progress Booster”
Experiential Marketing Category
Winner: Coca-Cola “Copa Cola Campaign”
2nd place: Unilever
3rd place: Nestle Milo Basket Ball Champs
Future Leader
Winner: Abidemi Adesokan A, Unilag
2nd place: Talhad Tajudeen Olademeji
3rd place: Adeyemo Esther
Brand Journalist
Dickson Akinwunmi
Goodie Efose
Princewill
Modupe Gbadeyanka 
Aduragbemi Omiyale