ARCON Celebrates Advertising Trailblazers, Recognises Leading Brands at 2026 Special Recognition Awards
The honours were presented at the 2026 ARCON Special Recognition Awards (ASRA), held on Friday at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, under the theme, “An Evening of Many Honours.”
The awards celebrated distinguished professionals, including living and deceased industry pioneers whose contributions have shaped advertising practice in Nigeria. Organisations recognised for regulatory compliance, ethical advertising and professional excellence also received awards.
Among the government officials honoured were the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, and the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake.
Notable advertising practitioners recognised included Professor Osaren Emokpae, Oluwafunmilayo Onabolu, the late Chief Simeon Olaghere, Dotun Okunbanjo, Ifeayichukwu Moemeke, Sir Chief Olu Falomo, the late Tolulope Ogunkoya, the late Olaniyi Babatunde and Dr Biodun Shobanjo.
Other recipients included Chief Ayodele Owoborode, Senator Akin Odunsi, Sir Steve Omojafor, George Thorpe, Emmanuel Ekunno and Babu Akinbobola.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Information and National Orientation, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Binyerem Ukaire, urged the award recipients to sustain their contributions to national development.
Ukaire described the awards as a commendable initiative for celebrating excellence and promoting adherence to the standards guiding advertising practice in Nigeria.
The Director-General of ARCON, Dr Olalekan Fadolapo, said the theme reflected the council’s commitment to acknowledging individuals and organisations whose dedication, innovation and professional achievements had contributed significantly to the industry.
He explained that the awards were designed to celebrate outstanding accomplishments, ethical conduct and regulatory compliance while inspiring practitioners to uphold higher standards.
According to him, the initiative also provides an opportunity to recognise individuals and organisations whose achievements continue to influence the industry positively.
The Chairman of the Advertising Standards Panel (ASP), Dr Emmanuel Agu, emphasised the importance of regulatory compliance in protecting consumers, strengthening brand reputation and ensuring fair competition.
He noted that responsible advertising was essential to maintaining public confidence in the industry, stressing that commercial messages must be truthful, decent and consistent with societal values.
“This recognition is therefore not just about rewarding those who have complied with established standards. It is about celebrating organizations that have chosen to lead by example, demonstrate that creativity and innovation thrive best within a framework of responsibility and ethical conduct,” Agu said.
His remarks underscored the need for advertising practitioners and brands to balance creativity and innovation with accountability, particularly as advertising continues to influence consumer behaviour and purchasing decisions.
Also speaking, the Chairman of ASRA and Group Managing Director of Omnicom Media Group, West and Central Africa, Yinka Adebayo, said the awards reinforced the importance of celebrating outstanding performance, commitment and hard work across the industry.
The 2026 awards recognised organisations across several sectors, including food and beverages, banking, financial technology, telecommunications, e-commerce, aviation, hospitality, healthcare, education and real estate.
In the food and beverages category, Peak Milk and its agency, Noah’s Ark, were among the recognised recipients. Chicken Republic and Wild Fusion Digital Marketing featured in the Hotels, Restaurants and Cafés category.
Coca-Cola Nigeria and Algorithm were recognised in the non-alcoholic category, while Moniepoint and mediaReach OMD featured in the fintech category. Fidelity Bank and Reckego were also listed among the recipients.
Other winners and recognised organisations included Pernod Ricard in the alcohol category; GSLC Media in aviation; BetKing and X3M Ideas in betting; and HP Computing Nigeria and Brandlife in computers and electronics.
Airtel Africa and The Hook Creative Agency were recognised in telecommunications, while Jumia and PHD Media Nigeria featured in e-commerce.
In education, the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and Media Seal were recognised, while Lekki Gardens and Rench Agency featured in real estate and property development.
TGI Distribution and Starcom Media received recognition in medical and pharmaceuticals, while Lush Hair was listed in body care. Showmax was recognised in the Made in Nigeria category.
Other special award recipients included the National Orientation Agency for Public Information Campaign of the Year, mediaReach OMD for Brand Reinvention and Innovation, Moniepoint Nigeria for Excellence in Customer Response Management, and Tolaram Group for Excellence in Sponsorship Marketing.
The awards reaffirmed ARCON’s drive to promote professionalism, ethical advertising and compliance with industry regulations, while recognising the people and organisations contributing to the development of Nigeria’s marketing communications sector.