Noah’s Ark, arguably the current number one advertising agency in the country in terms of creativity and clientele, marked ten years of existence earlier in the month. To keep pushing the boundaries of creativity in an industry which has seen the births of so many specialised areas, Lanre Adisa and his team have every reason to roll out the drums. Samuel Ajayi writes
Kehinde Adeosun. Femi Williams. Olu Falomo. Steve Omojafor. Akin Odunsi. Tunde Adelaja. Tola Olujobi. Biodun Sobanjo. Udeme Ufot. Lolu Akinwunmi. These are names that have made impressions in the nation’s rather treacherous advertising terrain. But most of them, especially the first five belong to a generation of practitioners who earned for the business the respect it rightfully deserved. But like every epoch that comes and goes, they belong to galaxy that is receding. And some of them have actually receded.
As one generation hands over the other one, these pathfinders have handed over the baton. And among those who have received it from them and racing impressionably towards the tape is Lanre Adisa and his Noah’s Ark Communications Limited.
Big ideas usually come like a fleeting brain wave. At times, the owner of such ideas might dismiss them and hence miss the opportunity to change his or her society and by extension, the world. But Adisa chose, not only follow his heart but also pursue his dream. And that dream was Noah’s Ark. And ten years after he gave physical push to it, the story has been that of success. Therefore, going by what the agency has been able to pack into just a hundred and twenty months of existence, perhaps, the company and its management have every reason to roll out the drums and pop the symbolic champagne. It is arguably worth it.
The ever evasive and humble Adisa is careful enough to give credit to where it is due: Providence. To him, it has never been their making but that unseen hand that confers success upon human endeavours. He is also quick to give credit to clients who believed in them even when they had no pedigree like the ‘big boys’ of the industry.
Adisa describes the achievement as a product of grace and immense support received from clients who have remained a strong foundation for the company’s sterling performance in the last ten years. He also does not mince words in reminding whoever cares to listen that hard-work, diligence and commitment to duty of the entire team and the management have also been pivotal to reaching where they are today.
His words: “The journey has not been easy, I must confess. But within the last ten years, we have grown to stand out in the Nigerian advertising industry through most of our creative works for the clients. Just last year, one of creative works for our client won Epica Gold in a global creative awards ceremony which took place in Germany. We have also won several awards both locally and international in those intervening years. This is as a result of the dedication and passion of the staff and management of our company. It is not a solo effort. Rather, we did it collectively. I owe it all to members of the team who spends most of their time trying to deliver value and creative ingenuity to our esteemed clients. We will continue to push the boundary to ensure that all our clients get the best.â€
Adisa is not alone in reminiscing on the last ten years in the life of the agency. Its Group Executive Director, Abolaji Alausa, describes the last ten years as highly eventful and rewarding for the company. According to him, within the short time, the agency has succeeded in establishing a strong footprint in the creative terrain through the supremacy of its ideas and quality of works delivered to clients. He says clients hold the key to the agency’s success having created the enabling environment for creative ideas to thrive.
He, therefore, thanks members of his team for their diligence in delivering creative ideas which have culminated into a series of awards and recognition accorded the agency.
It is epochal. And it won’t go unmarked. That is why the agency has rolled out series of activities marking the celebration of the milestone. They may not be good traders in the round leather game, but Adisa and his team will trade tackles in a novelty match with the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria, AAAN, the professional body for Nigeria’s advertising industry, at National Stadium Astroturf in Surulere, Lagos. This will be followed by a workshop organised for the entire group of Noah’s Ark, clients as well as industry practitioners.
The workshop will later be followed by a lecture to be delivered by a renowned advertising practitioner, Thomas Kolster, who is expected to speak on the topic titled†Goodvertisingâ€. A roundtable discussion featuring industry experts and thought leaders comes after the keynote lecture. Dates for these events will be communicated in due course but sources close to the agency Kolster who is an author and a thought leader in the global marketing communication field will be on ground to share his thoughts with students, industry leaders as well as clients. Other activities lined up for the celebration include Jum’at service and interdenominational church service. According to Adisa, some of the events lined up for the celebration have been carefully selected to tell the story and the journey of the company and share insights on development in the marketing communication industry.
Since it berthed, the agency has been involved in ground breaking campaigns many of which have earned it acclaim both locally and internationally. The agency had since given birth to two other subsidiaries such as Indigo PR, a public relations outfit, and Underdog Productions, which fully dedicated to TV commercials, and both have become household names in both public relations and digital production respectively. Its major clients include telecoms giants, Airtel, Indomie Noddles and Peak milk among others.
Noah’s Ark is unarguably the first creative agency in Nigeria to win a grand prix at global award and to have won gold back-to-back at LAIF award having won in the 2016 and 2017 edition.
