Nigeria’s advertising icon and Chairman of Troyka Holdings, Dr. Biodun Shobanjo, has been honoured with induction into the Loeries Hall of Fame, marking a historic milestone as the first West African to receive the recognition since the award’s inception in 2008.

The announcement was made at the 47th annual Loeries Awards ceremony held on Friday, October 10, 2025, in Cape Town, South Africa. The induction celebrates Shobanjo’s visionary leadership, groundbreaking contributions to marketing communications, and his pivotal role in building one of Africa’s most influential creative powerhouses — the Troyka Group.

The Loeries Awards represent the highest level of recognition for excellence, innovation, and creativity across Africa and the Middle East’s marketing communications industries. Its Hall of Fame remains the pinnacle honour, reserved for individuals who have profoundly shaped and elevated the creative landscape. Shobanjo now joins a select circle of just 16 industry legends who have received the distinction.

For over four decades, Shobanjo has stood as a defining force in African advertising and brand communications. At the helm of Troyka Holdings, the parent company of Insight Communications, Leo Burnett, Starcom Media Perspectives, All Seasons Zenith, Quadrant MSL, Digitas, Optimum Exposures, and Halogen Security Company, he pioneered a new standard of professionalism and creativity in the sector.

Through his leadership, Troyka transformed from an indigenous Nigerian agency network into an internationally connected group, solidified by its partnership with Publicis Groupe, one of the world’s largest marketing communications conglomerates. The Group’s agencies have consistently earned international acclaim for their creativity and strategic innovation, establishing Troyka as a benchmark for integrated marketing excellence across Africa.


Beyond his corporate achievements, Shobanjo is revered as the “Father of Modern Advertising in Nigeria.” His commitment to talent development, mentorship, and professional discipline has inspired generations of practitioners and entrepreneurs, laying the foundation for a thriving creative economy in West Africa.

Over the years, his trailblazing work has earned numerous national and international honours. In October 2022, he was conferred with the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) by former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to national development and the marketing communications industry.

With his induction into the Loeries Hall of Fame, Dr. Biodun Shobanjo’s legacy as a builder of people, brands, and institutions continues to resonate far beyond Nigeria, reaffirming his place among the continent’s most enduring creative visionaries.