X3M Ideas, Leo Burnett Lagos, Noah’s Ark Shine At Awards

X3M Ideas, Leo Burnett Lagos, and Noah’s Ark Communications Limited emerged top winners at the 2025 Lagos Advertising and Ideas Festival (LAIF) Awards held recently at the Marriott Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

A major highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of the LAIF Icon Award to advertising veteran, Biodun Shobanjo, in recognition of his contributions to the growth of advertising in Africa.

X3M Ideas dominated the event, winning the Agency of the Year award after securing 12 Gold, 26 Silver, and 24 Bronze medals. Leo Burnett Lagos received 2 Gold, 11 Silver, and 23 Bronze medals, while Noah’s Ark Communications Limited won 7 Gold, 9 Silver, and 8 Bronze medals.

The 2025 edition marked the 20th anniversary of the LAIF Awards and brought together industry leaders, creatives, agency executives, regulators, and young professionals to celebrate innovation and excellence in Nigerian advertising.

In his welcome address, chairman of the LAIF Management Board, Jay Chukwuemeka, highlighted the progress recorded by the Board since 2023 and the significance of the festival’s two-decade journey. He noted that initiatives such as the LAIF Report, LAIF Academy, LAIF Archive Portal, Domination Committee, and the Internship Programme had strengthened the festival and deepened industry collaboration.

President of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN), Lanre Adisa, commended the resilience of the advertising industry and the growth of LAIF into a leading creative institution on the continent. He said the milestone celebration reinforced the industry’s responsibility to preserve and advance Nigerian creativity as it approaches 100 years in 2028.

The ceremony also highlighted the evolution of LAIF from a small industry platform to one of Africa’s most respected creative award bodies.

The past chairpersons of the awards, including Funmi Onabolu and Bunmi Oke, were recognised for their contributions to elevating creative standards in the industry.