Nigeria
Industry Stakeholders Honour Late Advertising Icon Alhaji Soliu Kehinde Olasode at 10th Remembrance: Stakeholders in Nigeria’s outdoor advertising industry, alongside family, friends, and associates, gathered to honour one of the sector’s most respected pioneers, Alhaji Soliu Kehinde Olasode, at his 10th-year remembrance ceremony reports The Nation Nigeria.
The Fidau prayers and remembrance ceremony were held at his residence in Mongoro, Agege, Lagos, at noon on Saturday, May 2, 2026, marking a decade since the passing of the renowned advertising practitioner.
Alhaji Olasode was widely known as the co-founder and pioneer Managing Director of Abiok Publicity Limited, one of Nigeria’s leading out-of-home (OOH) advertising agencies. His legacy continues to resonate across the industry, where he played a transformative role in shaping modern outdoor advertising practices.
His journey into the advertising world gained momentum during his time at Greenland Publicity Limited, where he met his close associate and lifelong business partner, Alhaji Jimoh Atanda Lawal. United by a shared vision, the duo went on to establish Abiok Publicity Limited, which has since grown into a prominent name in Nigeria and West Africa’s advertising landscape.
Rising from humble beginnings, Olasode built a distinguished career through determination, foresight, and dedication. Beyond Abiok Publicity, he co-founded Jimmy Kay Ventures and Ogun News Today, further expanding his influence across business and media sectors.
Over the course of his career, he worked with several notable organizations, including Publicity Associates of Nigeria under Chief A. S. Adebiyi, Nigeria Advertising Services where he served as Outdoor Supervisor, and Greenland Publicity Limited, where he rose to the position of Outdoor Manager. His tenure at Abiok Publicity Limited from 1976 onward cemented his reputation as a visionary industry leader.
In recognition of his contributions, Olasode was honoured with the Best Outdoor Advertising Practitioner award at the 2006 APCON Night of Fellows Awards, underscoring his impact on the profession.
A founding member of the Outdoor Advertising Contractors Association of Nigeria, Olasode served in several leadership roles, including Executive Member and Chairman of the Outdoor Regulatory Committee. In this capacity, he played a key role in the planning and development of major advertising corridors such as Ikorodu Road, Ijora, and Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way—standards that continue to shape the industry today.
Committed to professional development, he also championed education and capacity building. In 1999, through Abiok Publicity Limited, he instituted three annual prizes within the APCON Diploma Programme, rewarding excellence in communication skills, business communication, and advertising production techniques. These awards were sustained for seven consecutive years, reflecting his dedication to nurturing future talent.
As colleagues, industry stakeholders, and loved ones gathered in Lagos to honour his memory, Alhaji Olasode’s enduring legacy as a pioneer, mentor, and industry builder remains firmly etched in Nigeria’s advertising history.
