MTN, Access Bank, others win in BrandCom Awards

*Biodun Shobanjo gets inducted into Hall of Fame 

By Amechi Obiakpu

Telecommunications giant, MTN and one of the leading banks in the country, Access Bank were outstanding in the maiden edition of the BrandCom Awards.

The awards, held at the Shell hall of the MUSON Centre Friday saw the South African owned telco carted Telecom Brand of the Year (Voice) while Access Bank bagged two awards; SME Friendly Bank of the Year and Best Brand in Sustainability.

Speaking on the awards, the Convener of BRANDCOM Awards-a part of BRANDCOMFEST, Joshua Ajayi said the platform came to fore following calls for years from stakeholders in the IMC industry that felt there is so much more that needs to be done in that regards. “For years, many stakeholders have reached us at Brand Communicator, asking why we do not have a platform that recognises and rewards excellence in this very vibrant industry.

“Distinguished guests, we shied away from this onerous responsibility to concentrate on projecting the industry as we felt there are enough platforms for this already. However, we have also been inundated with complaints about the falling integrity of awards in recent times where recognition is reserved for the highest bidder rather than merit which should be the norm.

In other categories, GTBank was awarded Commercial Bank Brand of the Year while LAPO Microfinance got awarded Microfinance Bank Brand of the Year; Tecno, Mobile Phone Brand of the Year, Haier Thermocool, Home Appliance Brand of the Year, Pepsi, Carbonated Soft Drink of the Year; Dano, Dairy Brand of the Year; Milo, Beverage Drink Brand of the Year and Airtel won Telecom Brand of the Year (Data).

In the individual Awards Category; Marketing Manager of Hayat Kimya, Roseline Abaraonye emerged the Marketing Manager of the Year while Brand Manager of Molfix, Chioma Mgbaramuko was awarded the Brand Manager of the Year. The Public Relations Manager of Multichoice Nigeria, Caroline Oghuma, got the Public Relations Manager of the Year award while Daniel Obi of BusinessDay Newspaper got the Brand Journalist of the Year.

The venue which attracted the who-is-who in the Integrated Marketing Communications sector saw the doyen of advertising, Biodun Shobanjo officially inducted into the BrandCom Hall of Fame for his many contributions to the growth of the IMC industry in Nigeria and Africa.

“The growth we have recorded today in the IMC industry is one that is enviable and remains so because of the contributions of great people like the doyen of advertising, Mr Biodun Shobanjo. For his likes, it is only befitting that he makes the prestigious BRANDCOM Awards’ Hall of Fame-the biggest award for the night,” Joshua Ajayi said.