The much-anticipated 10th anniversary of X3M Ideas is a milestone in the episodes of marketing communications in Nigeria. Changing the course of the industry’s history, the pan-African creative agency celebrated a decade of existence with regional expansion projects- a rare occurrence for any indigenous advertising brand in Nigeria.
In the last three decades, leading agencies like Lowe Lintas, Grant Advertising Limited, OBM, Rosabell Advertising as well as STB McCann dominated advertising in Nigeria. Sadly, the lack of a sustainable model has been identified by experts as a major roadblock to pushing the frontiers of marketing communications agencies in Nigeria.
At 10, X3M Ideas is penetrating the Middle East with its Dubai launch. No doubt, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is the second-largest investor in Africa after China. The current trend is that many Africa-focused companies are basing themselves in the emirate. According to the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, there are now more than 21,000 African companies in Dubai.
While reflecting on these expansion plans, Babaeko is optimistic that the next journey into new markets in Dubai, Kenya and Congo Brazzaville will breathe a new life into advertising practice in those regions.
“In the past 10 years, X3M Ideas has revolutionised marketing communications using brand-tailored solutions to navigate the dynamic nature of the markets. Due to digital disruption, the business of advertising has become more complex than before. Rather than focus on the challenges of consumer markets where we operate, we see more opportunities for growth beyond the African continent. Dubai is a choice destination for businesses in Africa. Wherever we see a need for innovative solutions for strategic communications, we go there and help businesses find their ‘X-factor’ and deliver quality service,’’ he said.
The Executive Creative Director, X3M Ideas, Mike Miller expressed optimism about the ongoing expansion saying,