Front-line Nigeria’s multinational agency, X3M Ideas has recorded yet another great feat as the agency became first Nigerian agency to win the coveted Cannes Lions Awards. This is coming at the global creativity awards’ 70 years history and the Nigeria’s agency 10th year anniversary.
News of the agency’s impressive Cannes Lions nomination filtered in this morning, Monday 19th June. It was indeed exhilarating for the sub-region to get a nomination at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.
The ten years old agency which came on the scene with the fired ambition not to compete against any other but itself, enjoys shattering gas ceilings and breaking records without batting an eyelid.
The agency’s African voracious expansion drive is incomparable to no other with its presence in major hubs on the African continent especially when businesses are scaling down.
About four years ago, X3M Ideas made the headlines for being the first as it’s CEO headlined a Cannes Festival session on “Telling the Authentic African Stories”.
It is also on record that the agency started winning local and international laurels from its first year of inception to demonstrate its uncanny creative ideas, culture and DNA.
In its 70 years history, West African agencies hardly get any mention at the glamorous and highly competitive Cannes Lions awards which industry players rightly refer to as the “World Cup” of Advertising.
However, since inception, X3M Ideas has consistently dedicates tidy sums to annual entries with the undying ambition to smash the glass ceiling one day!
This news filtered in this morning, Monday that the Lagos headquartered agency got a nomination already at the 2023 Cannes Lions Festival, hopefully more to follow. This has been elusive to the country’s versatile advertising industry for decades.
When contacted and congratulated in the early hours of the day, Steve Babaeko, CEO, X3M Ideas/Chief Creativity Officer and President, Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria, AAAN chuckled and retorted, “Thank you my brother. 1 shortlist thus far. We’ll know more by today or tomorrow”
However, the Advertising egg-head and respected industry leader, later had this to say on his social media handles, “I’ve been going to Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity for some time now – as a juror, panelist, and even a speaker”.
However, he never bothered attending the award presentations. Why? “I told myself I won’t attend until when we make the shortlist”.
“This year is different, my friend! X3M Ideas has finally done it! They’ve made Nigeria’s very first #canneslions shortlist. How cool is that? Big shout out to #TeamX3M for always pushing boundaries and putting Nigeria on the global stage. Now, wish us luck, because we’re determined to bring home Nigeria’s first lion. We can practically hear the roar of over 200 million Nigerians cheering us on. It’s high time we claim this lion!”
As part of keeping his promise just, Steve returned a while ago with the good news, “It’s official guys we won!”
“X3M Ideas won Nigeria’s first Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. This one is for #TeamX3M for our clients and our beloved country #Nigeria Like they say in Nollywood movies: To God Be The Glory. #canneslions70 #canneslions2023”, Steve declared as he officially announced on his social media handles.
As usual, X3M ideas beats its own nomination record and coasted home with the very prized, coveted but elusive Cannes Lions Award at least to Nigeria and the West African sub-region. “X3M has won the coveted Cannes Lions award for it’s clients and Nigeria, the AAAN President retorted with tone of satisfaction. But trust Steve breaking records never stops.
Congratulations to the team X3M Ideas.
