Entertainment

In true mediaReach OMD fashion, it has retained the number one media agency position in Nigeria with more major awards on its shelf. The agency snagged 13 trophies at the 2022 Pitchers Award.

These include two gold, four silver and 11 bronze medals which the agency won across various categories.

MediaReach OMD Worldwide was awarded Media Network of the Year 2022 at this year’s Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity while Team OMD Nigeria’s entry for the Global Young Lions Media Competition 2022 was shortlisted top 6 for the first time.

Maintaining the winning streak,  MediaReach OMD Nigeria also dominated the 2022 Young Lions Media Competition in Nigeria by earning the first and third positions. The competition is open to young media professionals under 30 years across the industry – for an opportunity to represent Nigeria at the annual Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

Staff representatives for OMD Nigeria, Motolani Olusile and Ezinne Eze retained the titles for the second year in a row; and in June, the winning team represented Nigeria at the 2022 Cannes Festival in France.

The win was expected as mediaReach OMD has consistently won the Young Lions Media Competition in Nigeria. It should be recalled that in June 2019, the OMD Network was awarded the Most Medalled Media Network at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity.

The agency has also been consistently ranked No. 1 by RECMA (since the global ranking report started for Nigeria in 2011). In West & Central Africa, mediaReach OMD has continued to be a thought leader and pioneer of various initiatives at the industry level, including syndicated and proprietary research.

It is the hub for the region and has been a member of the OMD Worldwide Network since 2001. The specialist media agency provides media planning, buying and control; and inventory and management services.

MediaReach OMD has consistently ranked No. 1 by RECMA (since the global ranking report started for Nigeria in 2011). In West & Central Africa, mediaReach OMD has continued to be a thought leader and pioneer of various initiatives at the industry level, including syndicated and proprietary research.

It is the hub for the region and has been a member of the OMD Worldwide Network since 2001. The specialist media agency provides media planning, buying and control; and Inventory management services.

It has presence in Nigeria, Ghana and Cameroon. In its quest to cover the Francophone region, the company went into a strategic partnership with the Harmonies Group, which has operations in Ivory Coast, Senegal, Togo and Benin. This partnership of seven offices has provided mediaReach OMD presence across 20 countries in West and Central Africa, giving an unrivalled coverage to Advertisers in the region.

The reputation of mediaReach OMD as a market pioneer in the region is longstanding. Clients enjoy the strategic advantage of the agency’s people-based precision marketing platform – OMNI and OMD’s global strategic process – OMD DESIGN. These are geared towards consistently delivering measurable value for clients.

In 2021, the agency partnered with the prestigious Lagos Business School to host a seminar tagged – Top Media Trends to Watch For in 2022. The goal was to equip professionals with insights for planning post COVID.

MediaReach OMD is the only truly globally integrated media independent agency in the region. The company leverages global resources to deliver locally relevant solutions that put its clients ahead. It remains the largest buying network and the most transparent agency in the region.

The GoNigeria Initiative, which encourages youth participation in the electoral process, has announced the names of young Nigerians who won the top three (3) prizes in the GoNigeria Digital Comedy Challenge. 

The winners are Olanase Eniola Daniel who emerged as the Star prize winner of the competition with a cash prize of N1,000,000 (One Million Naira), as well as Bassey Stephen Ernest and, Justice Onyema Nwanchukwu who emerged as the first and second runners-up with cash prizes of N600,000 and N400,000 respectively. The Comedy Challenge was organized to further boost the public enlightenment campaign being orchestrated by GoNigeria. The latter is an advocacy group initiated by Anap Foundation and which seeks to sensitize Nigerian youths to register to vote, obtain their PVCs and participate in the electoral processes during the 2023 General Elections.

 The online comedy contest which ran from Friday, 22 April, 2022 to Friday, 13 May, 2022, was aimed at engaging Nigerian youths with a strong inclination in comedy to showcase their talents and be part of the ongoing GoNigeria advocacy campaign. Many a true word is said in jest and so numerous entries were funny, but all helped to boost the PVC drive.

The poster boy for the GoNigeria Comedy Challenge was renowned Actor, Content Creator and Activist Debo Adedayo (Mr.Macaroni), who is also a GoAmbassador. The digital competition offered persons between ages 18 to 34, an opportunity  to create a 45 seconds comedy video while holding their Permanent Voters’ Cards [PVCs] or registration slip and encouraging other youths to go register and pick up their voters’ cards, whilst playing with the acronym PVC in the video, then posting their video using hashtag #GoNigeriaComedyChallenge.The objective was to encourage the youth demographic to register with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and collect their PVCs before the expiration of the Commission’s last Continuous Voter’s Registration [CVR] deadline of 30 June, 2022 in preparation for the 2023 General elections.

Mr Macaroni has admonished Nigerian youths to register and pick up their PVCs in several videos produced by him. He is at the forefront of celebrities and activists who are eager to see youths and participate more actively in the nation’s electoral processes, as their direct involvement in the 2023 general elections can be pivotal to reshaping the country’s political destiny.

GoNigeria is an initiative of Anap Foundation, a non-profit organization which is committed to promoting good governance. Via its GoNigeria Initiative, Anap Foundation has been partnering with Advocates and enlightened celebrities (GoAmbassadors), corporate bodies eager to support the Initiative via co-branding (GoPartners) as well as many enthusiastic young volunteers who will help to amplify the messaging to their age mates (GoVolunteers). The overall aim is to encourage Nigerian youths to register and vote en-masse in the 2023 General Elections.

The 18 Initial Advocates of the GoNigeria Movement are drawn from all the 6 geopolitical zones (3 from each zone). They are: Atedo Peterside (Convener), Aisha Yesufu, Nuruddeen Lemu, Dike Chukwumerije, Folarin Falana (Falz), Bishop Matthew Hassan-Kukah, Arunma Oteh, Hamzat Lawal, Tomiwa Aladekomo, Osita Chidoka, Dr. Tony Rapu, ‘Yemi Adamolekun, Muhammad Ali Pate, HH Muhammad Sanusi II, Dr. Salamatu Hussaini Suleiman, Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, Ayisha Osori and Ibrahim Dahiru Waziri.

 To know more about Anap Foundation’s GoNigeria Initiative, visit: www.GoNigeria.com

As the contest on Nigerian Idol heats up, the top four (4) contestants on the Bigi sponsored Nigerian Idol had stunning performances with a display of exceptional talents to the admiration of the judges, with each trying to outwit the other in Sunday’s show that saw two contenders evicted due to lower votes.

The contestants who performed exhilaratingly also got the audience excited, as they thrilled to make it to the next show, on the music talent discovery platform, which will culminate on May 22nd. It will also see the winner smiling home with N100, 000, 000 worth of prizes, including a recording deal from a label, a brand-new Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), cash prizes, and other exciting gifts.

The show, with over twenty-four million votes in the last episode, kept music lovers surprised with the improved performances of the top four contestestants/contenders: Zadok, Jordan, Progress, and Banty. It also saw the eviction of Itohan and Faith.

Also, there was the appearance of a guest judge, top Nollywood actress, Omawunmi Megbele, known by her stage name, Omawunmi, together with Obi Asika, Dapo Oyebanjo, popularly known by his stage name D’banj, Simisola Bolatito Kosoko popularly known as Simi, to comment on the gig, and IK Osakioduwa, the host.

Before the show commenced, all the contestants performed the song “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars, with encouragement from the judges to sustain the musical dexterity they had showcased, to get to the finale.

Progress sang Johnny Drille’s “Wait for Me,” and it made Asika, who was so delighted with his stage control, affirm that the rendition was splendid, while Simi said, “It was very good.” D’Banj stated “keep progressing as you have proven your worth as a singer,” while Omawunmi enthused, “I was following your song and it was quite interesting.”

Jordan did “Aeroplane mode” by Fireboy: with praises from Simi, saying “your voice is really fine”, D’Banj “you sang from your heart, it is a classic performance,” while Omawunmi stated, “your voice is so melodious.” Not left out was Asika, who avowed, “You did well.”

Fascinatingly, Banty’s stage act of Asa’s “Bibanke” was greeted with a standing ovation, with Omawunmi saying “that was so beautiful to watch, your voice was cool,” Asika “your voice was so incredible,” Simi “you are perfect, I love you,” and D’Banj “you have every means to be on top.”

One of the contestants, Zadok’s performance of Timi Dakolo’s “The Vow” shook the stage and left everyone astounded, and with a standing ovation, got heart-warming comments from the judges, with D’Banj saying “I must greet you specially, that was a great voice,” and Omawunmi “music is in you, don’t let it go.” Asika remarked, “unbelievable stage display and vocal, you keep proving me right every week,” and Simi, “I love it.”

Proudly powered by the Bigi soft drink brand of Rite Foods, Nigerian Idol Season 7 is aired on Africa Magic Showcase (DStv channel 151), Africa Magic Urban (DStv channel 153, and GOtv Supa channel 6), and Africa Magic Family (DStv channel 154, & GOtv channel 2).

After weeks of intense musical melee and auditions, the search for the next Nigerian Idol winner moves to a live stage as the top 12 contestants of the Bigi Nigerian Idol Season 7 took turns to impress the Judges – Obi Asika, Simisola Bolatito Kosoko (Simi), and Oladapo Oyebanjo (D’Banj)- as well as viewers at the live show on Sunday, 20 March, 2022.