Preparations are in top gear for the second edition of the Brand Handlers Summit & Awards as Marketing Space magazine, organisers of the event, unveiled Mr. Wole Olagundoye, Managing Director of Outori Limited, and Mrs. Victoria Uwadoka, Head of Corporate Communications, Public Affairs & Sustainability at Nestle Nigeria, as keynote speakers for the 2026 edition.

The event, themed “Marketing the New Africa: Driving Growth Through Innovation, Culture, and Youth Influence,” is scheduled to hold on Friday, June 5, 2026, at Sheba Centre, Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, Ikeja, Lagos, by 10:00 a.m.

Mr. Olagundoye will headline the first session of the summit, delivering a keynote address on the sub-theme, “Winning the African Consumer: Bridging Corporate Strategy with Youth Culture.”

His presentation will focus on how brands can effectively connect with Africa’s youthful demographic while aligning marketing strategies with corporate objectives in an evolving marketplace.

Mrs. Uwadoka will deliver the keynote address for the second session on the sub-theme, “Scaling African Brands: Leveraging Data, AI, and Innovation for Continental Impact,” where she will share insights on how African brands can harness data, artificial intelligence, and innovation to expand their reach and strengthen their competitive positioning across the continent, by 2:00 p.m.

The summit will also feature panel discussions with leading professionals across the marketing communications ecosystem. Panelists for the first session include Ayodeji Razaq, Managing Director of Red Media Africa; Ayodele Alabi, Head of Corporate Communications, Nigerian Breweries Plc; Abiola Yahaya, Chief Executive Officer of Lemonlime; Oluwaponmile Alabi, Head of Category for RTS Brands at Guinness Nigeria; and Bemigho Awala, Public & Media Relations Manager at Moniepoint Inc. The session will be moderated by Adedayo Odulaja, Director, Research, Policy & Programmes at Caritas Communications.

Panelists for the second session include Bridget Oyefeso-Odusami, Head, Marketing and Communications, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc; Nana Milagrosa Utomi, Chief Experience Officer, MPXM Agency; Oluwaseyi Layade, Chief Operating Officer, Leo Burnett Lagos; Oluwanisola Eludoyin, Product & Growth Marketer; and Emmanuel Adediran, Business Unit Director, mediaReach OMD. The session will be moderated by Zion Rufus, Senior Brand & Content Strategist at Livespot360 Agency.

The event will be chaired by Dr. Felix King Eiremiokhare, Group Chief Executive Officer of Oracle Experience.

Speaking on the event, the Convener and Publisher of Marketing Space described the summit as Nigeria’s foremost thought-leadership platform designed to bring together professionals across the marketing communications value chain.

“This year, we have carefully selected high-profile marketing and communications professionals to do justice to the themes, bringing deep industry insight, practical experience, and forward-thinking perspectives to the conversation,” he said.

He added that the summit also serves as a credible forum for recognising and inspiring excellence among agencies, brands, and individuals within the Nigerian marketing landscape.

The event will culminate in the Brand Handlers Awards ceremony scheduled to commence at 5:00 p.m., where outstanding individuals and organisations will be recognised for their significant contributions to the Nigerian marketing communications industry.