Advertising gurus empower AAAN members, others during 4-week professional masterclass
In its unwavering commitment to elevate professional standards and drive continuous improvement within the marketing communications industry, the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) recently concluded its flagship initiative, The Art of Advertising Masterclass — a dynamic four-week professional development programme designed to sharpen skills, inspire creativity, and foster collaboration across the advertising ecosystem.
Spearheaded by the AdCademy Working Group of AAAN under the visionary leadership of Dr. Tayo Oyedeji, CEO of Insight Publicis Group Nigeria, the programme focused on four critical pillars of the advertising profession: Account Management, Strategy, Copywriting, and Art Direction.
The Masterclass featured a powerhouse lineup of facilitators — industry titans who generously shared their wealth of knowledge and practical insights. These included:
Lanre Adisa, AAAN President and CEO/CCO, Noah’s Ark
Steve Babaeko, Immediate Past President, AAAN & Group CEO/CCO, X3M Ideas
Kelechi Nwosu, Past President, AAAN & CEO, TBWA\Concept
Kayode Olowu, Founder & Creative Director, OneWildCard
Temitope Ayeni, Director, Brand Management & Strategy, X3M Ideas
Adebimpe Oloyede, Director of Operations & Procurement, Insight Redefini
Other distinguished facilitators included:
Nnenna Onyewuchi (Co-Founder/Chief Growth Officer, Halo Financial Services),
Emeka Obia (Integrated Strategy Director, Central and West Africa, Publicis West Africa),
Ralph Idu (Founder/CEO, Poke Limited),
Olalekan Akinyele (Founder, Think Like A Designer), David Bamishile-Richards (Creative Director, Leo Burnett), and Franklin Ozekhome (Co-Founder, Maskvrade).
Participation was nothing short of phenomenal — a testament to the programme’s relevance and value. Attendees came from a wide range of AAAN member agencies, client-side companies, and even as far as Cameroon, highlighting the initiative’s regional impact.
Following the four weeks of virtual instruction, AAAN brought the learning community together for a vibrant cocktail party held on Thursday, June 5, 2025, at Leo Burnett, Ikeja GRA, Lagos. The event served as a fitting finale — an evening of networking, appreciation, and celebration. Facilitators were honoured for their contributions, and participants proudly received their Certificates of Completion in person.
This Masterclass is yet another demonstration of AAAN’s dedication to capacity building, creativity, and community, reaffirming its role as a catalyst for excellence in advertising practice across Africa.
