NEWS
AAAN’s 51st AGM/Congress Begins Today
The attention of the country’s Advertising professionals and industry stakeholders will focus on Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, where the 51st Annual General Meeting (AGM)/Congress of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) begins today. The three-day event, to be flagged off by the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Adedapo Abiodun, will also have in attendance Alhaji Mohammed Idris Malagi, Minister of Information and National Orientation, among other dignitaries.
The AGM/Congress will kick off with courtesy visits by members of the Steve Babaeko-led AAAN executive committee to the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo Aremu 111; and Osile of Oke-Ona, Oba Adedapo Tejuosho.
Themed: “Breaking the Mold-Creativity and National Development”, the event is expected to highlight how Advertising practice can better aid national development, review the activities of the association and feature the election of a new executive committee that will drive the association’s processes over the next two years.
Shedding light on what to expect from the AGM/Congress, Babaeko, the AAAN President, explained that in addition to looking at how creativity can aid the acceleration of national development, the sessions lined up will also provide room for the assessment of the association’s activities over the last one year, the stewardship of the outgoing leadership as well as the election of a new one.
“The 51st AGM/Congress presents Advertising professionals the opportunity to assess the impact of what we do and how we can add more value, which informed this year’s theme, “Breaking the Mold-Creativity and National Development.
“The impact of Advertising on the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is considerable. The fact of it was recently reiterated by study carried out by PwC, which was commissioned by the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) and funded by industry associations. The report of the study, presented to the public in Lagos last month, puts the value of the Advertising industry at N605.2billion,” explained Babaeko.
Tomorrow, the AGM/Congress will host a seminal discussion session by experts from different economic sectors. Chairman of the Events Planning Committee, Mr. Doyin Adewumi, noted that the association has a tradition of using multi-disciplinary and multi-industry expertise to improve Advertising practice, the reason it has, again, invited experts from other fields to speak on the theme of the event.
“The AAAN is a body that is receptive to knowledge from other professions. It is why we have invited accomplished professionals from other fields to lend their knowledge to what we do. We believe that this approach will provide new thinking that Advertising professionals can put to use,” he stated.
The speakers expected are the conference session are Mr. Obi Asika, Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture; Mr. Femi Odugbemi, founder/CEO, Zuri35 Media; Ms. Chichi Nwoko, CEO and founder, WHAT Media; Mr. Olumide Balogun, Director, Google West Africa; and Mr. Olatunbosun Alake, Lagos State Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology.
Later the same day, candidates for various executive committee positions will have the opportunity to share the ideas with members at the Manifesto Night.
The AGM will come to a close on Saturday with a morning business session, which will feature the induction of new members, dissolution of the executive committee, and election of a new committee, while the Gala/Award Night will see deserving industry figures recognized.
Zamfara State Executive Governor, Dr Dauda Lawal has commended the troops for their efforts and commitment to the fight against banditry in the state.On Saturday, the Violence Crime Response Unit (VCRU) of the Zamfara Police Command successfully recovered 329 cattle and 175 sheep from bandits in the Gambanda forest in Gummi Local Government.Governor Lawal, while appreciating the troops, described the Zamfara State Police’s renewed efforts as encouraging and promising in the fight against banditry.He said, “I commend the effort of all the security operatives in Zamfara State, especially the Zamfara State Police Command, for its resilience, bravery and commitment in recovering 329 cattle, 175 sheep, weapons and ammunition from bandits.”The police engaged and overpowered the bandits in Gambanda forest in Gummi local government area, which led to the recovery.”This commendable action reflects their tireless work in the face of challenges posed by criminal elements and underscores the police’s role in protecting the livelihoods of the people of Zamfara State.”The remarkable display of bravery and the successful recovery of livestock and weapons highlight the strong leadership of the Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Muhammad Bello. His guidance has been instrumental in improving public safety and combating banditry.”My administration remains committed to providing support to all security agencies in their efforts to ensure safety and security for our people.”
The Zamfara State Government is pleased to announce that His Excellency, Governor Dauda Lawal, has approved the payment of allowances/stipends to National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members serving in the state. The approval reflects the administration’s unwavering commitment to the welfare and wellbeing of corps members who are contributing to the development of various sectors across Zamfara State.
The approval covers corps members from Batch A Stream I and II up to Batch C Stream I and II. Through this gesture, the government recognizes and appreciates the patriotism, dedication, and selfless service being rendered by the young graduates in education, healthcare, agriculture, and other areas critical to the growth and progress of the state.
Governor Dauda Lawal has directed the Office of the Accountant General to put in place all necessary arrangements to facilitate the implementation of the approval. The government is committed to ensuring that the process is carried out smoothly and in accordance with established procedures.
The Zamfara State Government remains grateful to the NYSC members for choosing to serve in the state and for their invaluable contributions to community development.
The administration will continue to prioritize initiatives aimed at supporting corps members and creating an enabling environment that will allow them to discharge their national responsibilities effectively.
Aviation
From Doha to the World: Qatar Airways Takes Off to Over 160 Global Destinations This Summer
• The World’s Best Airline, as voted by Skytrax in 2025 for the ninth time, is adding 26 destinations to its network
• With its return to iconic gateways in Asia and Europe and the launch of new routes in the Americas, the airline is restoring connectivity to key global markets • Qatar Airways’ award-winning travel experience includes secure and seamless transfers through its Hamad International Airport hub, and inflight connectivity with Starlink – the fastest Wi-Fi in the sky DOHA, Qatar – Qatar Airways continues to deliver on its commitment to network restoration, and is steadily expanding its reach to more than 160 gateways for the ease and convenience of international travellers. The airline is returning to 26 destinations in key global markets. The World’s Best Airline, as voted by Skytrax in 2025 for the ninth time, resumed safe and secure operations from March 2026 to over 60 destinations. It gradually began rebuilding its network to facilitate connectivity across the globe, and will now serve more than 160 destinations this summer. Qatar Airways’ award-winning passenger experience is delivered on the tenets of operational reliability and safety. The airline delivered 84.42% on-time performance in 2025, which has been recognised by Cirium – the leading aviation analytics organisation, with the prestigious Platinum Award for Operational Excellence. Travellers also benefit from seamless transfers through Qatar Airways’ hub, Hamad International Airport. A destination in its own right, Hamad International Airport is home to Qatar Duty Free’s extensive portfolio of diverse lifestyle and dining outlets for travellers from every walk of life. The travel experience is made more rewarding through the airline’s loyalty programme, Privilege Club. Members can earn and spend Avios during their journey to unlock future benefits. The airline’s onboard experience is supported by Starlink, the fastest Wi-Fi in the sky. More than 140 Qatar Airways aircraft are equipped with Starlink, making it the world’s first and largest Starlink-equipped widebody fleet. Passengers in both Premium and Economy cabins enjoy Wi-Fi speeds of up to 500 Mbps per aircraft. Qatar Airways’ Summer 2026 Global Network: Along with the previously announced Port Sudan (PZU) route to be launched on 2 July, the airline is returning to the following African destinations: • Kigali (KGL), Rwanda, with two weekly flights • Seychelles (SEZ), Seychelles, with four weekly flights • Marrakesh (RAK), Morocco, with seven weekly flights With service to Caracas (CCS) and Bogotá (BOG) starting from 22 July, its return to Philadelphia (PHL) from 1 August, Qatar Airways is reinstating its network in the Americas with four weekly flights to Boston (BOS). As the Official Airline Partner of the FIFA World Cup 2026™, Qatar Airways is increasing its service to Boston from four to seven weekly flights to support fan travel during football’s biggest tournament. Additional FIFA host cities supported by Qatar Airways’ increased flights include: • Los Angeles (LAX), USA: increased from four to seven weekly flights • Miami (MIA), USA: increased from seven to 10 weekly flights • San Francisco (SFO), USA: increased from four to seven weekly flights In Asia and Asia Pacific, the airline is returning to the following destinations: • Adelaide (ADL), Australia, with seven weekly flights • Almaty (ALA), Kazakhstan, with seven weekly flights • Auckland (AKL), New Zealand, with seven weekly flights • Baku (GYD), Azerbaijan, with seven weekly flights • Osaka (KIX), Japan, with five weekly flights • Tashkent (TAS), Uzbekistan, with four weekly flights • Tbilisi (TBS), Georgia, with seven weekly flights • Tokyo Haneda (HND), Japan, with four weekly flights (increased to seven weekly flights from 1 August) • Yerevan (EVN), Armenia, with four weekly flights Qatar Airways’ expanded service in Europe includes the following destinations: • Belgrade (BEG), Serbia, with four weekly flights • Brussels (BRU), Belgium, with seven weekly flights • Budapest (BUD), Hungary, with four weekly flights • Düsseldorf (DUS), Germany, with seven weekly flights • Helsinki (HEL), Finland, with four weekly flights (increased to seven weekly flights from 1 August) • Lisbon (LIS), Portugal, with seven weekly flights • Oslo (OSL), Norway, with seven weekly flights • Prague (PRG), Czech Republic, with seven weekly flights • Zagreb (ZAG), Croatia, with four weekly flights
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