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FCLA Cannes Contest Finalists Announced

Winner to Join Global Cannes Lions Roger Hatchuel Student Academy Class of 30 in France


The top 3 finalists at the Future Creative Leaders Academy contest to select the delegate to the Cannes Lions Roger Hatchuel Student Academy have been announced by Pitcher Festival. The 3 finalists are:


Cynthia Nwosu, Mass Communication student of the Federal Polytechnic Nekede Owerri

Oyinkansola Epidi, Communication And Media Studies student of the Ajayi Crowther University

Ireayooluwanite Olota, Information Science and Media Studies student of the Pan Atlantic University


The brief to the students was "create a 2-minute video showing who you are, how you are creative and why you deserve a space on the Cannes Lions Roger Hatchuel Student Academy." See full details of the brief here.


The entries were judged by the following:

Nnenna Onyewuchi, Founder/Executive Director, Strategy & Innovation, Yellow Brick Road, Lagos, who is also the 2022 Future Creative Leaders Academy Dean


Christophe Pecot, Regional Audiovisual Attaché/Cultural & Creative Industries Embassy of France, Nigeria


Ayodeji Onabajo, Group Head, Business & Product Growth, Intelligent Innovations, Lagos


Elijah Affi, Creative Director, Takeout Media, Abuja, Nigeria


Olalekan Akinyele, Creative Director, 7even Interactive, Lagos


Teresa Makori, Associate Creative Director, Isobar, Kenya


The 3 finalist will now be forwarded to the Cannes Lions international jury to select the final winner, who will be sponsored by CHINI Africa, Cannes Lions official festival representative in Nigeria to attend the global class of 30 students at the Roger Hatchuel Student Academy taking place in France in June during the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.


Some of the jurors have been sharing their experiences looking at the students' work.


Nnenna Onyewuch, Dean of the Academy said: "I’ve enjoyed the creativity and variety in the approaches to the entries. I was also very drawn in to some of their stories. I’m sure the eventual winners will be most deserving and will perform admirably at the academy".


Onabajo Ayodeji said: "I count it a privilege to have been a Juror in the process. All the contestants put in good effort however creativity isn’t a term to be explained. Creativity is in doing. It is an act that should appeal to the human reasoning, 5 senses and emotions."


Olalekan Lexain Akinyele said: "The landscape, the platforms and the consumers are consistently changing as technology improves. I was expecting to see the creativity of these young bloods at play not describe it like most of them did. If they can be creative with tik-tok, using their phones to record, edit and animate, then I was expecting the same approach here to tell their stories which only a few did. Whoever is going to represent us must be the best from us"


Elijah Affi said: “Judging the Young creatives, was a great way for me to also travel down memory lane, reminding me of my young self when I was also in their place, the young ones showed themselves to be very creative and hungry for more, I would encourage them to keep investing in the quality of their work and not give up till they win, because they eventually will."


Teresa Makori said "Ones greatness is not in what one has, but in what one gives. I would like to commend every individual behind the Future Creative Leaders Academy, Pitcher Festival of Creativity and the Cannes Lions Roger Hatchuel for their commitment to providing a platform to recognise and groom the future creative leaders of tomorrow. The participants of this challenge are really passionate in making their mark be it as copywriters, designers, animators etc… which has been really encouraging and inspiring to see. I believe the guidance and mentorship and networks the winners of the challenge will receive will act as a great springboard for their careers, and I’m honoured to have been part of this journey for them as a member of the jury."


The Future Creative Leaders Academy is a youth programme of the Pitcher Festival of Creativity designed for students in universities and other tertiary institutions. It provides a platform for intensive learning, discovering talents, as well as inspiring and immersing hopeful professionals into the world of advertising and marketing communications.


Other items on the 2022 Academy calendar are:


FCLA Pre-Festival Seminars and workshops from 24 – 25 March 2022 where a second competition brief will be issued to the students.


Participation in the Pitcher Festival programmes from 19 - 21 May 2022. This will also include presentations by 5 top performing students and final announcement of all the competition winners


See all participating students in the 2022 Future Creative Leaders Academy here.

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