By Our Correspondent
Awka, the capital city of Anambra State, was on Sunday aglow with industry recognition and institutional affirmation as leading brands, media organisations, corporate entities and individuals were honoured at the maiden edition of the Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency Compliance and Recognition Awards (ACRA) 2025, a landmark initiative designed to reward excellence, integrity and regulatory compliance within the out-of-home advertising ecosystem.
Organised by the Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency (ANSAA), the high-profile ceremony, which held at the Cihcotel Classique Hotel, Awka, marked a defining moment in the state’s evolving regulatory landscape, reinforcing the Soludo administration’s policy direction that compliance, professionalism and ethical business conduct must be visibly recognised and rewarded.
Among the award recipients, in the Media Category, Onyokimita News (www.onyokomita.com) was named Media Partner of the Year (Online/Blog sub-category), with the award presented to its Publisher and Managing Editor, Comrade Izunna Okafor, in recognition of the platform’s consistent professionalism, responsible reportage and constructive engagement with public institutions.
Still in the media category, Daily Sun Newspaper emerged as Media Partner of the Year (Newspaper), while Udala FM 104.7 FM won Media Partner of the Year (Radio), and Oufcom Global Concepts Ltd. won Media Partner of the Year (Photography).
OPay also emerged as the Number One Brand Advertiser in Road Furniture, reflecting its dominant visibility and sustained compliance across approved outdoor advertising assets within the state.
Furthermore, transport giant, GUO Motors, recorded one of the most outstanding performances of the night, clinching two major honours as the Outstanding Mobile Advertising Partner of the Year and Most Compliant Brand of the Year (2025) — a recognition that underscored its adherence to regulatory standards, operational discipline and strategic branding consistency.
Other awardees spanned across corporate, political, media, community and operational categories, which highlighted the breadth of compliance and excellence within the sector. Geolis Cable Limited and Stelconic Properties Limited were recognised as the Earliest Subscribers in the First Party Asset and Special First Party Asset categories respectively. Umunya Development Union emerged as the Most Compliant Community of the Year, while Onuigbo Peter Chidube was honoured as the Most Active Community Liaison Officer for his role within the Umunya axis.
In the public sector category, the Mayor of Idemili South Local Government Area, Hon. (Mrs.) Amaka Obi received the award for Most Supportive Mayor of the Year, while the Young Progressive Party (YPP) was recognised as the First Political Party to Obtain an Out-of-Home Campaign Permit for 2025. R&S Lotto Ltd clinched the Most Compliant Corporate Client of the Year award, and GEMS Communication Ltd emerged as the Most Compliant Out-of-Home Practitioner.
Security and institutional collaboration were also acknowledged, with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps honoured as a Supporting Partner (Security), while Sterling Group and Jet Logo Communications received awards as Supporting Partners in the out-of-home advertising category. Oluebube Foundation and Opportunity to See were recognised as Outstanding CSR Partners for their impactful participation in the White Cane Campaign.
Globel Prints and Advert was named Outstanding Out-of-Home Partner of the Year, while Multipro Consumer Products Ltd received the Outstanding Brand Relationship Award. APGA was honoured as the Biggest Buyer of Road Furniture Assets and Out-of-Home Advertising in the political category, while Krisoral Group of Companies clinched the same honour in the private and commercial category.
Operational excellence within ANSAA also received recognition, as Njikoka Zone, led by Mrs. Maureen Okeke, emerged as the Most Improved Zone by revenue growth, while Onitsha South Zone, under Mr. Onyeka Umerah, was named the Zone with the Highest Compliance Rate and revenue generation. Special First Party Assets, managed by Mrs. Chioma Uwakwe, won the Most Improved Asset award, while Corporate Clients and Road Furniture Assets, managed by Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Akuchukwu, recorded the Highest Compliance Rate. Akuchukwu Ifeanyichukwu further emerged as the recipient of the MD’s Award for Dedication and Integrity, earning the Staff of the Year honour.
The well-attended event attracted an array of high-ranking government officials and industry stakeholders, including the Chief of Staff to the Governor of Anambra State, Hon. Chief Ernest Ezeajughi, who represented the Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo; Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor (the Chief Host); Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Felix Odimegwu; Commissioner for Lands, Prof. Offornze Amucheazi; and Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Hon. Chiamaka Nnake.
Also in attendance were Special Adviser to the Governor Entertainment, Leisure and Tourism, Hon. Bob Manuel Udokwu; Managing Director of the Anambra Broadcasting Service, Mr. Christopher Molokwu; Managing Director of Anambra State ICT Agency, Hon. Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata, CFA; Managing Director of the Anambra State Housing Development Corporation, Hon. Chike Anyaonu; the Anambra APGA State Chairman, Hon. Chief Ifeatu Obi-Okoye; immediate-past MD/CEO of ANSAA, Chief Dr. Jude Emecheta; Executive Secretary of the Anambra State Security Trust Fund, Hon. Daniel-Scott Ofoneme; as well as representatives of OAAN, TAVA, corporate brands and advertising practitioners, among others.
Earlier in his keynote address, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ANSAA, Mr. Tony Odili Ujubuonu, described ACRA as a deliberate institutional mechanism to reinforce ethical conduct and voluntary compliance. He noted that the awards were inspired by Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo’s directive to reposition ANSAA as a value-driven, technology-enabled agency capable of contributing meaningfully to the state’s internally generated revenue.
The ANSAA Boss revealed that under the current administration, the agency has undergone a complete transformation, expanding its workforce, doubling its zonal offices, professionalising its operations and increasing revenue contribution from an annual average of ₦80 million in the previous administration to over ₦750 million this year, with a clear projection of surpassing the ₦1 billion mark by 2026 through improved compliance and technological investment and without increasing signage fees.
“ANSAA has had a tremendous growth under our inspiring governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, from a staff strength of less than 45 to 80 members of staff with an average age of 29, from 5 zonal offices to 10 zonal offices, from a diffident band of revenue hustlers to a team of well-trained, properly dressed, well-mannered and confident partners of our highly revered clients,” he stated.
According to Ujubuoñu, ACRA is ANSAA’s attempt at saying “Thank You” to those who constantly pay the agency without pressure, who publicize its activities to the world, and who help it earn more money for the development of the state.
This reporter gathered that ACRA 2025, which featured special performances, musical renditions and a melodious Christmas carol session, proudly established itself as a defining platform for reinforcing accountability, rewarding ethical conduct, and strengthening partnerships between government and the private sector.
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