The Nigerian marketing industry gathered to honor its brightest talents and most impactful campaigns at the fifth edition of the Nigerian Marketing Awards (NMA). Held on December 5, 2025, the event celebrated marketing communication works that demonstrated an outstanding touch, reflecting a sector that is both evolving and excelling.
A Celebration of Merit and Growing Stature
Now in its fifth year, the awards ceremony has successfully garnered significant buy-in from industry stakeholders. The quality of entries submitted for judgment was notably high, providing a delightful challenge for the panel of jurors. The founder of the award, Tony Agenmonmen, highlighted in his welcome address that the organizers deliberately chose 'the road less travelled' when they launched the initiative four years ago. This decision was rooted in a firm resolve to make a meaningful difference within the marketing landscape.
Agenmonmen, who also served as a former president of the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN), emphasized that integrity remained the guiding principle. He stated, 'We decided from the very beginning that the Nigerian Marketing Awards would not just be another marketing awards, but a movement, a standard, a symbol of marketing excellence and credibility.' This principle was rigorously applied across both competitive and honorary categories.
Record Entries and Jury Insights
The Chairperson of the Award Decision Council (ADC), Iquo Ukoh, provided key insights into this year's submissions. She revealed that the council recorded over 130 entries, a clear indicator of the growing interest and credibility the annual event commands within the industry. Ukoh, who is the CEO of Entod Marketing Limited, noted that this positive development presented a challenge to the jury to raise their standards even higher.
She explained that the jury, composed of eminent marketing professionals with diverse expertise, ensured every entry was assessed fairly and thoroughly. Importantly, Ukoh identified a major trend observed during the screening process: a noticeable slump in consumer demand for goods and services. This economic pressure, she added, pushed numerous brands to deploy exceptionally innovative and creative marketing strategies to sustain customer interest and demand.
Winners Emerge Through Rigorous Process
The awards culminated in the selection of 22 winners across 22 distinct categories. Agenmonmen stressed that the selection was purely merit-based, conducted solely by the independent award jurors without any interference from the organizers. This transparent process underscores the award's commitment to its core values of excellence and credibility, cementing its position as a premier benchmark for marketing achievement in Nigeria.
The success of the 2025 edition demonstrates that the NMA has firmly established itself as more than just an annual ceremony. It stands as a vital platform for recognizing the strategic creativity that drives brand success and responds to dynamic market challenges, setting a high bar for the future of marketing communications in the country.
