Dozie Okafor to take center stage on Thursday as Media Lions Jury at Cannes 70th Edition

By Zion Rufus

Cannes Lions, the prestigious Festival of Creativity and the largest gathering of advertising professionals worldwide, is set to feature Dozie Okafor, the Managing Director of PHD Nigeria, as a prominent member of the Media Lions Jury at its 70th edition.

On Thursday, 22 June at 12:15 pm-13:00 pm (Europe/Paris), Okafor will be joining industry leaders such as Christian Juhl, the Global CEO of GroupM, and Isabel Massey, the Global Head of Media and Content, to evaluate and discuss some of the most outstanding pieces of work in the media category.

This highly anticipated session will bring together the Media Lions Jury President and Jury Members to delve into the winning entries, providing valuable insights into the selection process and offering advice to future participants on crafting their submissions.

With Okafor’s wealth of experience and expertise, his presence on the jury is expected to contribute significantly to the rigorous evaluation and recognition of excellence within the media category.

Earlier this year, Cannes Lions announced the appointment of Okafor, along with other Nigerian industry professionals, as jurors for the 2023 edition of the festival. This recognition highlights the growing influence and creative talent emanating from Nigeria and the broader African continent.

Joining him on the jury panel are Nnenna Onyewuchi, Executive Director of Strategy and Innovation at Yellow Brick Africa, Chuka Obi, Director of Creativity & Innovations at Globacom, and Adenike Odutola, Managing Director at X3M Ideas Zambia. Together, they will be responsible for judging the media, innovation, mobile, and PR categories respectively, ensuring that the best work in each field receives the recognition it deserves.

Dozie Okafor’s journey in the advertising industry began in 2007 at OMD Nigeria. As a trained electrical engineer from the University of Nigeria and an alumnus of the Lagos Business School, Okafor brings a unique blend of technical knowledge and business acumen to his role as a jury member.

Throughout his career, Okafor has worked with renowned brands such as Vodafone, Guinness, GSK, Distell, SC Johnson, StanbicIBTC, Beiersdorf, and many others during his tenure at OMD Nigeria and OMD Ghana. He later joined PHD Nigeria, where he served as the pioneer Head of Strategy and Planning, working on notable brands including Ovaltine, Hennessy, PZ Cussons, Ariston, Apple, and SC Johnson.

His accomplishments also include serving as the Media Manager/IMC Lead for Coca-Cola Nigeria’s West Africa Business Unit, overseeing regional integrated marketing communication and media/assets development. Returning to PHD Nigeria in June 2017 as the Managing Director, Okafor assumed responsibility for PHD operations across Francophone West Africa, further expanding his influence in the region.

Photo credit: Anietie Udoh, Divisional Director, MARKETING EDGE PUBLICATIONS LTD, Dozie Okafor, Managing Director of PHD Nigeria at the day one of the opening of Cannes Lions Festival of Advertising and Ideas holding at Cannes, Paris.