The EDGE Awards 2025 did more than honour marketing leaders. Instead, it captured the spirit of an industry in transition. Nigerian marketing moves into a future where data and creativity work hand in hand. Furthermore, leadership reshapes the marketer’s role, and purpose blends with performance.

The night went beyond titles and trophies. In fact, every award told a story. Each recipient reflected the direction of regional and national trends in marketing, communications, and leadership.

Corporate and Brand Communications: Building Trust for the Long Term

Odiri Erewa-Meggison, FCIS, received the Outstanding Corporate and Brand Communications Personality of the Decade. Her recognition highlights how careful planning and consistent storytelling build trust across years. She has shown how corporate communication can turn strategy into trust.

Dr. Funso Aina received Outstanding Public Relations and Corporate Communications Personality of the Decade. His award shows how PR can shape public policy, secure reputation, and train future communicators.

Akonte Ekine, CEO of Brand Exchange and leader of the Consumers Value Awards (CVA), earned Outstanding PR Personality of the Decade. His recognition proves how PR leadership secures brand reputation and public trust.

Dr. Adewale Opawale, a researcher at Stream Insight, received Outstanding Social and Market Research Personality of the Year. His award underlines how data-driven insights now shape modern brand growth.

Marketing and Brand Leadership: Strategy That Moves Markets

Olayinka Ijabiyi received the Outstanding Marketing and Brand Communications Personality of the Decade. His recognition celebrates leaders who reposition brands, create new moments of consumption, and align purpose with business results.

The Outstanding Marketing Personalities of the Year included Olusesan Ogunyooye, Nnegi Akinola, Chioma Mbanugo, Tolu Olanipekun, Omolara Banjoko, and Seun Adaramola. Their work in product launches, bold campaigns, and market repositioning shows the power of consumer-driven creativity.

James Odejimi and Manpreet Singh were recognized as Outstanding Marketing Personalities of the Decade. Their awards underline how long-term brand building and adaptability create sustainable market leadership.

Samuel Akinrimisi and Ilyas Kazeem earned the Leadership Award in Marketing, proving leadership requires consistent vision and execution across industries.

Other winners included Ilabeshi Gabriel of Arpa as Outstanding Marketing and Communications Professional of the Year, Ikechukwu Agu as Outstanding Commercial Director of the Year, and Maureen Ifada as Outstanding Marketing Amazon of the Year. Abayomi Awe, Managing Director of Rehoboth Chops and Confectioneries, earned Outstanding Confectionery Brand Personality of the Decade, showing how creativity drives FMCG growth.

Digital and Young Talent: The Fast Future

Kemi Okunade and Odinaka George won Outstanding Young Digital Marketing Personalities. Their campaigns connect culture to conversion, a skill vital for Gen Z engagement.

Omoefe Ohworakpo received the Outstanding Digital Marketing Personality of the Decade, highlighting his role in shaping acquisition, retention, and lifecycle management.

Tolu Onile-Ere earned the Leadership Award in Digital Marketing, showing how leaders now build ecosystems that deliver across channels.

Kemi Linda Ogungbemi earned the title of Outstanding Hybrid Advertisement Amazon of the Year, proof that combining traditional and digital strategies drives impact.

Out-of-Home and Experiential: Reinventing Physical Spaces

Michael Emelieze won Outstanding Out-of-Home Advertising Personality of the Year. Meanwhile, Anthony Nwabuisi, Khadijah Okunnu-Lamidi, and Lanre Ashaolu received Outstanding OOH Brand/Personality of the Decade honours. Their work shows how OOH has evolved into data-driven, experiential platforms.

Eunice Adeyemi earned Outstanding Experiential Personality of the Decade, celebrating her ability to create brand moments that inspire loyalty.

Other honourees included Danielle Ibraheem as Outstanding Mobile OOH Advertising Personality of the Year, Abiodun Iderawumi with the Leadership Award in OOH, and Tonya Osato Lawani as Outstanding OOH Advertising Brand Personality of the Year. Together, they show that OOH remains a powerful tool for visibility and impact.

Media, Broadcasting and Creative Custodians

Victoria Ajayi, CEO of TVC Communications, won the Leadership Award in Broadcasting. Her recognition shows how broadcasting leaders protect editorial quality while driving revenue in a digital-first world.

Maureen Ngwu received Outstanding Media Advertising Personality of the Decade. Femi Adefowokan, on the other hand, earned the Leadership Award in Media Advertising.

Martin Uro was recognized as Outstanding Creative Advertising Personality of the Year, showing the enduring value of bold, culturally relevant storytelling.

Corporate and Sector Leadership

Dr. Adaora Umeoji of Zenith Bank received the Bank CEO of the Year award. Conversely, Mr. Taiwo Adeniyi of Vitafoam earned Outstanding Company CEO of the Decade (Manufacturing).

Dr. Emmanuel Eme Emefienim of Premium Trust Bank received the Outstanding CEO Legacy Banker of the Year. Also, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi of SIFAX Group received the Outstanding Maritime CEO Personality of the Decade award. These awards reflect a trend: CEOs now see brand and marketing as central to risk management, reputation, and long-term growth.

Culture and Lifetime Achievements

Mike Dada of PRM Africa won Outstanding Cultural and Creative Economy Promoter of the Decade, highlighting the fusion of culture and business.

Lifetime honours went to Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo of ARCON, Otunba Seni Adetu, Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, Kelechi Nwosu, Kayode Olagesin, Kunle Onime, John Ehiguese, and Arjan Mirchandani. Each award highlighted leadership that shaped policy, creative industries, and Nigeria’s economic development.

Governor Abiodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State received the Grand Prix Award. Similarly, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was recognized as Outstanding Political Personality of the Decade. Both awards show the role of political branding in shaping public trust and investment.

What the EDGE Winners Collectively Tell Us

The EDGE Awards 2025 show that marketing in Nigeria moves towards hybrid leadership, where creativity, technology, and executive vision merge. Furthermore, consistency across decades proves that long-term investment in people and culture pays off.

Young digital marketers signal the rise of cultural fluency as a market advantage. Meanwhile, OOH and experiential leaders show that physical presence remains powerful when linked to relevance and innovation.

Above all, winners prove that purpose and performance now define marketing success. Brands win not just by selling but by shaping culture, inspiring trust, and building sustainable business value.

Lessons for CMOs and Boards

The EDGE Awards 2025 leave clear lessons. Invest in people who turn culture into business results. Encourage quick experimentation, and allow ideas to rise from anywhere. Treat culture as a KPI, not an afterthought. Pair creative leadership with metrics that CFOs understand.

Awards Are Signals, Not Endpoints

The EDGE Awards 2025 were more than a night of celebration. They revealed how Nigerian marketing is evolving and who is driving its next chapter. The winners showed that marketing today must be strategic, creative, data-driven, and culturally aware.

For Nigeria’s marketers, the message is clear: invest in talent, align culture with commerce, and you will shape the future of the industry.

ALSO WATCH MARKETING EDGE ONTV