AAAN Flags Off 21st Edition of LAIF Awards

The Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) has officially kicked off the 21st edition of the Lagos Advertising and Ideas Festival (LAIF). The announcement came from Lanre Adisa, the re-elected President of AAAN, during a press conference held in Lagos.

Alongside the festival's launch, a new leadership team for the LAIF Management Board was introduced. The board includes notable figures such as Funke Adekola, who will serve as President, Jumoke Akinyele as Vice President, and other members including Victor Oyaroro, Tobi Williams, and Rotimi Ade-Onajobi.

“

Every great idea faces obstacles. Every creative breakthrough is preceded by moments of doubt, disruption, experimentation, and even glitches. What distinguishes great creators is not the absence of challenges but the courage and resilience to learn, adapt, and keep creating. In many ways, it is the natural progression from grit through the inevitable glitches to greatness. That is the story of LAIF, and indeed, the story of creativity itself.

Adisa articulated the theme for this year's festival, "From Glitch to Great." He described it not merely as a slogan but as a profound reminder that the journey to greatness is fraught with obstacles. "Every great idea faces obstacles. Every creative breakthrough is preceded by moments of doubt, disruption, experimentation, and even glitches," Adisa stated, emphasizing that resilience and the ability to learn from challenges define great creators.

“

That journey from glitch to great, from local acclaim to global relevance, will demand more from all of us: more originality, more craft, more innovation, and more courage to create ideas that can stand shoulder to shoulder with the very best in the world.

The AAAN aims to elevate LAIF beyond its current status as West Africa's premier celebration of creativity. The association aspires to make it a globally recognized benchmark for creative excellence, comparable to international awards like the Loeries and African Cristal. Adisa stressed that achieving this global relevance requires greater originality, craft, innovation, and courage from all involved.

Funke Adekola, the newly elected President of the LAIF Management Board, expressed the board's commitment to building upon past successes and adapting the festival to the industry's evolution. She highlighted the goal of creating a governance structure that mirrors the modern creative economy and positioning LAIF not just as a champion of creative advertising but as a benchmark for total business and cultural impact. Adekola envisions LAIF as a launchpad for the future of African creativity, aiming to catalyze innovation rather than just celebrate existing excellence.

“

As we step into a brand-new cycle today, we are not here merely to announce an award show. We are here to announce an evolution. This board stands on the shoulders of two decades of remarkable progress, and we are stepping into this season with a commitment to honour our past while fearlessly