MarketingLet’s throw it back to when Nigerian corporate and sports event awards all looked the same.
Remember those gold-plated cups and wooden plaques? Exactly.
What was the result you got when you ordered them in bulk from Ojuelegba for your last event?
You probably ended up with recipients who completely forgot about your brand and didn’t see a need to talk about their win online. Not shocking at all.
Well, these off-the-shelf trophies are gradually being phased out. Corporate brands and sports event organisers now opt for custom trophies because:
- They want awards that represent the brand or event and mean something to recipients.
- Custom trophies have proven to be an effective strategy for boosting performance & participation in sports and in the workplace.
Off-the-Shelf Trophies vs. Custom Awards: What’s the Difference?
With off-the-shelf trophies, someone walks away with proof that they won something. But that’s where it ends. And that’s okay if your goal is to tick a box because generic awards tell the recipient, “We just had to do something, so you don’t leave empty-handed.”
Custom awards are a sharp contrast. They are designed to tell a story about your brand and the specific competition, milestone, or accomplishment being celebrated. They create a lasting connection between the recipient and your brand.
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So, when choosing awards for your next event, think about what you want.
- Do you want it to be displayed or tucked away?
- Do you want to tell a story of the recipient’s work or skill?
- Do you want to stand out and capture your brand in a memorable way, or simply tick a box?
Two brands answered these questions, and their answers led them to ask us to create custom awards for their events.
Custom Trophies for Red Bull and Heirs Insurance
Brands that opt for custom trophies often want pieces that reflect the effort, brand essence, or event without words. Here’s how we did that for Heirs Insurance & Red Bull.
Trophies for Red Bull Half Court Tournament
For Red Bull Half Court 2025, the brand wanted unique trophies that captured the energy of the tournament. So, we created different trophy variations that reflected the core of the game itself.
The awards carried the brand colour and reflected the street basketball culture that makes the tournament matter. Each trophy design told part of the story, giving players something that represented what they fought for on the court.
Now, will these awards blend in or stand out? The answer is clear.
Awards for Heirs Essay Competition
We designed two distinct awards for this competition. The first featured a hand writing with a feather quill, honouring the craft of writing. The second showed male and female figures with raised fists, depicting victory, celebrating the triumph of young voices being heard.
Both designs spoke directly to what the competition valued: the power of words and the courage to use them, which is what our custom awards do— tell stories without words.
Conclusion
Custom awards don’t get forgotten; people want to show them off and post them online, not dump them on a shelf. They remember when they got them, what they were for, and why it mattered. That’s how your event and your brand stay in people’s minds long after it’s over. A thoughtful award makes the win feel bigger, and that kind of impact doesn’t come from something picked off a shelf.
Before you order a generic award, ask yourself: Will anyone care about this award a year from now? Will they display it? Talk about it? Remember it?
If the answer isn’t an immediate yes, you’re making the wrong choice and missing an opportunity to create something that actually matters.
Want to create a custom award that outlives the moment? Talk to us at enquiries@createyourmeta-iv.com, and we’ll help you turn recognition into a lasting brand symbol.
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