By Gloria Ezirim
Advertisers under the aegis of Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN) which controls 85 per cent of the nation’s marketing budget says it spends N100 billion annually on advertising.

Speaking, Mr. Kola Oyeyemi, President of ADVAN, while addressing newsmen in Lagos, prelude to the 2nd edition of the Marketing Award scheduled for November 19, 2011, said as a result of the strategic importance of the Association to the growth of marketing it is also lending a strong voice to providing insight, collaboration and advocacy to communicate marketing best practices.

The  President  who said the Association which have 55 member companies controls 85 percent of Ad spend  amounting  to N100billion annually, noted that, aside leading marketing industry initiatives, influencing  industry affairs and advance, promotes and protect all advertisers and marketers.

Further, he said that the Award project is in line with the association’s objective to drive thought leadership within the industry as well as influence developmental changes.

According to him, “The heart of the ADVAN Awards for marketing Excellence is to acknowledge and reward marketing professionals that have made outstanding contributions to the profession.”

He went further to say that ADVAN prepares for the event with a promise to highlight the fundamental position marketing occupies in business and public sectors, and to celebrate marketing achievement across a range of industries.

Oyeyeme also said that the awards will recognize outstanding and effective marketing in Nigeria by awarding the winners in four categories ; Brand of the year, which includes financial services, Food and Beverages, Telecom, Consumer Electronics Pharmaceuticals and HPC, Brand of Year, Campaigns, which TVCs, Radio, Outdoor Print and New Media and Individual and Team efforts, which includes brand revitalization, New Brand, Marketing hall of Fame , Young Marketer of the Year and marketing Student of the year.

The Association which claimed they are in better position to give marketing awards to those who practice marketing excellence said they maintain develop and set marketing industry standards, so it behooves on the association to give out awards, he pointed out.