Davidson Iriekpen
An Abuja-based indigenous outdoor advertising firm, LONA Media Limited, is set to inaugurate Africa’s biggest billboard in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), a unique innovation that is aimed at transforming and beautifying the capital city’s landscape.
Briefing journalists in Abuja on the activities lined up to mark the 10th anniversary of the company, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Idoko Kingsley Ilonah, explained that apart from its unique size, the board which is located on the Abuja International Airport Road, Lugbe Interchange incorporates a park that could attract members of the public to have internet access through an arranged collaboration for wifi services provision with MTN.
Ilonah pointed out that the company, as its contribution towards the beautification of the FCT, has budgeted more than N30milion to be spent on landscaping and construction of the park, adding that this latest initiative involves mixing business with corporate social responsibility.
Providing details on the features of the newly installed biggest billboard in Africa, he explained that Africa’s biggest billboard measures 20metres by 80metres, adding that plans were afoot to erect one of the biggest billboards in the world which will also have unique features for entertainment and leisure at the site.
He recalled the challenges inherent in the building of the LONA Media brand which is set to celebrate its 10th anniversary and stressing that he had to confront the twin issues getting government and banks to fund startups and convincing clients not only to believe in new companies and also to patronise them at the onset.
On how he overcame his initial challenges, Ilonah pointed out that “with dedicated staff and early patronage of clients such as GLO the company has grown very fast to position as the leader in the outdoor advertising business in Nigeria.”
He explained that the making of the Africa’s biggest billboard located in the FCT involved the collaborative efforts of reputable contractors such as Niverfa Nigeria, C & S Project in South Africa, acknowledging that LONA Media drew inspiration from the confidence which the MTN brand reposed on the company by being the first to patronize the billboard with its advert.
Ilonah said from the humble beginning of opening for business with only one LED Billboard at Gana Street Junction opposite Transcorp Hilton Hotel in 2006, the company now has grown to owning over 100 billboards displayed across the different states of the country with 60 domiciled in Abuja only.
