In a bold move to shape the future of marketing across Africa and beyond, MARKETING EDGE has announced Baba Awopetu, Lead Strategy Consultant at Stragmar UK, as the lead speaker for its 2025 National Marketing Stakeholders’ Summit.

MARKETING EDGE 2025 National Marketing Stakeholders’ Summit, a gathering of icons, mavericks, and market leaders, will hold on September 25, 2025.

The much-anticipated yearly industry conversation brings together industry intellectuals, sharpest minds, and boldest voices from across the marketing, creative, technology, and business landscapes locally and globally.

With the theme, “AI Integration: Leveraging New Technologies to Achieve Business Objectives,” the summit ignites powerful conversations around the future of marketing in a world rapidly shaped by artificial intelligence, evolving consumer behaviors, and cultural transformation.

But this is not just another industry event.

This is where the future meets its architects, a stage for those who not only adapt to change but also define it and turn moments into momentum in all fields of endeavour.

When excellence calls, only the best respond.

Speaking on the virtual event, Publisher and CEO of MARKETING EDGE Publications, Mr John Ajayi said this year’s event will further alter industry paradigms.

Accordingly, this is in line with unfolding contemporary global happenings within and beyond the marketing and advertising ecosystems.

His words: “This year’s MARKETING EDGE National Marketing Stakeholders’ Summit is not just another industry gathering but a powerhouse convergence of thought leaders, brand architects, and creative disruptors who actively redefine the future of marketing, technology, and cultural engagement across Africa and beyond.”

“We feel excited to host this galaxy of well-selected industry giants and titans who will reconfirm, assure, and provide insights on tomorrow’s market today  vis-a-vis the paradigms that redefine our business practices and models,” Ajayi noted.

Unlocking the Summit — A Voice to Set the Tone

A voice seasoned by strategy and sharpened by impact opens this landmark gathering:

Baba Awopetu, Lead Strategy Consultant at Stragmar, UK.

Known for turning market complexity into clarity, Baba has led transformation across global sectors and organizations.

As the Lead Speaker, his address lays the groundwork for a day of unfiltered insight, fearless ideas, and paradigm-shifting discussion.

MODERATORS — Guiding the Energy

The tone of the conversation matters just as much as the content.

That is why two formidable moderators whose reputations precede them anchor the summit:

Ozoemena “Ozone” Mbanefo

He is a creative strategist and a cultural curator. As an industry mentor, Ozone’s name echoes through the halls of Nigerian advertising as one of the most respected voices of his generation.

As moderator, he brings not just poise but also perspective, thereby ensuring every session carries depth, clarity, and creativity.

Peter Osarimen Ukhurebor

Analytical, articulate, and always ahead of the curve, Peter joins Ozone to help distill the brilliance of each conversation into actionable insight. Together, they promise a dialogue that remains as dynamic as it is visionary.

PANELISTS — The Icons and Game Changers

This year’s panel features an ensemble of cross-industry powerhouses in a rare convergence of thinkers, doers, and storytellers whose work already shapes the future:

Dr. Omotola Bamigbaiye‑Elatuyi

With over two decades of experience building brands and leading strategic innovation, Dr. Omotola brings an unmatched blend of intelligence and intuition.

Her voice helps unpack how marketers can build purpose-driven strategies in AI-enabled environments.

Dr. Bada Akintunde‑Johnson Country Manager, Paramount Africa

A force in media and entertainment, Dr. Bada has redefined the art of content marketing across Africa.

Expect a compelling lens into how brands can connect with audiences through culture-first, data-informed storytelling.

Preetesh Sewraj

Known for his future-forward thinking, Preetesh stands as the marketing futurist every boardroom listens to.

His insights push boundaries, challenging attendees to reimagine everything from consumer engagement to product innovation.

Sam Onyemelukwe

A master of brand-building and digital ecosystems, Sam understands the interplay between creativity, tech, and culture.

He shares fresh perspectives on how African brands can scale with authenticity and tech agility.

Dare Art Alade

He is a creative polymath whose work across music, media, and entrepreneurship has left a cultural imprint.

Dare’s contribution explores how emotional storytelling and artistry remain core to brand loyalty even in an AI-driven age.

Osato Evbuomwan

She is a strategic thinker deeply in tune with Gen Z and millennial markets. Osato’s voice brings a pulse-check on what modern audiences demand and how brands can evolve to meet them.

Femi Odugbemi

A revered filmmaker and cultural custodian, Femi has spent decades preserving Africa’s stories through film and visual media.

His presence grounds the summit in the truth that culture is not a trend it is the terrain.

Remi Ogunpitan

With a four-decade legacy in broadcast and content production, Ogunpitan brings wisdom that only experience earns.

His reflections help marketers understand how to balance innovation with legacy, tech with tradition.

Obi Asika Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC)

For over 30 years, Asika has championed Nigeria’s creative industries.

His leadership reminds us that marketing is not just about products it is about identity, culture, and the power of collective storytelling.

THE JOURNEY — What’s at Stake?

This year’s summit focuses not just on the what but also on the why and how.

In a world where AI disrupts every industry, the question is no longer if we should integrate it, but how to do so with intentionality, humanity, and measurable impact.

Key thematic pillars include: AI as a Business Driver

Exploring how companies can integrate artificial intelligence not just for automation, but for innovation, differentiation, and sustainable growth.

The Rise of New Creator Value

Who are the new creatives What value do they bring And how should marketing teams evolve to work alongside them in this next era

Conception and Ideation in a Post-Traditional World

From brainstorming in boardrooms to co-creating in digital labs, the rules of ideation change. This panel dives into how innovation undergoes redefinition.

Cultural Storytelling Meets Data Science

As technology advances, so must our ability to tell stories that resonate.

This conversation examines how to strike the balance between emotional resonance and machine-powered precision.

MARKETING EDGE 2025 is where strategy meets soul, where algorithms meet emotion, and where leaders meet legacies.

It offers a rare chance to engage with icons and ideators who move markets, shape culture, and engineer the next frontier of brand growth.

And on September 25, 2025, the room fills with those ready to set the tone for the next decade of marketing in Africa and beyond.

Will you be there