Doyen of advertising and Chairman of the Troyka Group, Dr. Biodun Shobanjo has been conferred with an industry Icon Award at the landmark 20th edition of the Lagos Advertising and Ideas Festival (LAIF) Awards held recently at the Lagos Marriott Hotel, Ikeja.
The special presentation, led by Mr. Udeme Ufot (MFR), Chairman of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) Board of Trustees, alongside other distinguished industry leaders and members of the LAIF Management Board, brought the entire venue to its feet in a sustained standing ovation as stakeholders from across the marketing communications ecosystem rose to honour one of the industry’s most towering figures.
In a creative nod to Nigeria’s entertainment heritage and Dr. Shobanjo’s adventurous spirit as an industry trailblazer, the Icon Award presentation was staged as a Gulder Ultimate Search-themed ceremony. The dramatic presentation featured a ‘Roman soldier’ and female hostesses reminiscent of the popular reality television series, and other elements that mirrored the journey of discovery, endurance, and ultimate triumph that has characterized Shobanjo’s six-decade career in marketing communications.
The elaborate tribute has been described as a fitting metaphor for a man who has navigated the often-treacherous terrain of Nigerian business, overcome numerous obstacles, and emerged victorious time and again, much like the contestants in the legendary Gulder Ultimate Search series. The creative presentation added gravitas and entertainment value to what was already an emotionally charged moment, as industry practitioners, young and old, gathered to pay homage to a living legend.
Mr. Udeme Ufot, in his presentation remarks, described Dr. Shobanjo as not just a business titan but a mentor, visionary, and institution builder whose influence extends far beyond the boardroom. “We stand here today to honour a man who didn’t just build agencies; he built an industry. Dr. Biodun Shobanjo has been a father figure to generations of practitioners, a pioneer who opened doors for countless professionals, and a standard-bearer for excellence in the industry,” Ufot noted.
Shobanjo’s contributions to advertising and marketing communications have earned him numerous national and international honours. He was adjudged Nigeria’s advertising man of the 20th century by Weekend Concord in 1999, and was honoured on November 14, 2014 with the award of the Most Important Personality in Advertising by African Development Magazine in Ghana.
