By Opeyemi Okeowo
Kwara State University has emerged winner of the Creative Advertising Pitch Competition organized as part of the 2026 Advertising Industry Colloquium of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria.
KWASU scored 489.5 points to clinch first place and the N1 million cash prize at the competition held during the colloquium at the DPodium Event Centre, Ikeja, Lagos, on Thursday.
The competition brought together students from five Nigerian universities to showcase their creativity, strategic thinking and advertising skills before professionals in the industry.
The University of Ilorin finished second with 460.5 points, while Rivers State University came third with 448 points.
Kaduna State University placed fourth with 447 points, while Lagos State University finished fifth with 371 points.
The winner received N1 million, while the second-placed team received N750,000, the third-placed team received N500,000, and the fourth- and fifth-placed teams received N250,000 each.
The competition was one of the major highlights of the colloquium, which was themed, “The Future of Advertising: Role of Platforms, People and Regulation.”
The initiative provided the students with an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and creativity in front of advertising professionals while gaining practical exposure to the industry.
Speaking during the event, the President of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria, Lanre Adisa, commended the participating students for their courage and participation.
He said presenting ideas before experienced professionals was itself a valuable learning experience for the students.
“It takes a lot to stand in front of people, professionals like that, and present an idea. Even if you don’t come top, it is even a victory for you to be able to get to this point,” Adisa said.
He added that investing in young talent was essential to the future competitiveness of Nigeria’s creative economy.
Also speaking, the President of the Experiential Marketers Association of Nigeria, Mrs Tolulope Medebem, encouraged the students to remain curious, courageous and committed to learning.
She said the students were not merely preparing for the future but were already contributing to shaping the future of the advertising industry.
The competition formed part of ARCON’s efforts to strengthen the relationship between academia and the advertising industry and expose students to practical professional experiences.
The colloquium also featured keynote presentations and panel discussions on artificial intelligence, digital platforms, data ownership, consumer protection, regulation, creativity and the changing advertising landscape.
The event brought together regulators, advertising practitioners, academics, media professionals and students to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing Nigeria’s advertising industry.
