The O&L Group delivered a commanding double victory when Namibia Dairies' 'MoreToLove' campaign for the beloved Oshikandela brand was named Advertising Campaign of the Year, reinforcing a standout evening for the Group at the Windhoek Country Club Resort gala dinner, says the duo.

Patricia Hoeksema, Managing Director of O&L BrandX, says the recognition affirms the agency's commitment to building brands people love through work rooted in authenticity, care and genuine passion — the core characteristics of the O&L Group's Persona and a philosophy that echoes this year's Indaba theme, 'Marketing from the Heart'. As a proudly Namibian-owned agency, O&L BrandX carries a responsibility to grow Namibian brands to their fullest potential and to demonstrate that world-class work can be created right here at home, adds the duo.

"This is a deeply proud moment for the entire BrandX team. Agency of the Year is not built on a single campaign, it is earned through a year of relentless innovation, exceptional delivery and genuine investment in the people, platforms and partnerships that make great work possible. As a 100% Namibian-owned agency, we set out to prove that world-class creative excellence can be built right here at home and tonight tells us we are on the right path," says Hoeksema.

Dalinka Alberto, Marketing Manager at Namibia Dairies, says the 'MoreToLove' campaign win reflects the deep emotional connection that Oshikandela holds with Namibian consumers."Oshikandela is not only a product. It is part of Namibia's daily life and culture. The 'MoreToLove' campaign was built from real moments and real people and to have it recognised as the country's best advertising campaign is a testament to what happens when a brand truly leads with heart. We are grateful to the O&L BrandX team for bringing this vision to life with such authenticity and passion."

The Excellence Awards were introduced for the first time this year as part of the second edition of the MTC Branding and Marketing Indaba. The event drew more than 400 delegates from across Namibia and the African continent. An independent panel of six judges evaluated 109 entries across 15 categories, with 44 submissions advancing to the nomination stage. Each category winner received NAD$20 000 and a coveted Excellence Award trophy, says the duo.

The judging panel noted that the advertising entries which rose above the rest shared what they termed the "H-factor" — work that did not merely communicate but connected on a human level. Judges said the strongest campaigns were unapologetically Namibian in character, resisting borrowed aesthetics in favour of authentic local storytelling and assessed entries against criteria of strategy, craft, originality and measurable results, adds the duo.

O&L BrandX's award submission highlighted a year of significant milestones, including the launch of CollabX, Namibia's first structured agency-led influencer programme with more than 200 creators, a pioneering partnership with global social media management platform Sprout Social and a team-wide AI for Marketing Accelerator programme, says the duo.

The O&L Group congratulates all winners and nominees recognised at the inaugural Excellence Awards and commends MTC for establishing a platform that uplifts the standard of branding, marketing, communications and advertising in Namibia and across the continent, concludes the duo.

For more information, visit www.ol-brandx.com. You can also follow O&L BrandX on Facebook, LinkedIn, or on Instagram. 

*Image courtesy of contributor