Organisers of this year's Women in Marketing and Communications Conference and Awards have released the full speaker lineup ahead of the August 29 event at Lagos's Landmark Event Centre, and it draws heavily from government, regulatory and corporate leadership circles.
Topping the list is Dr Bolajoko Bayo-Ajayi, President of the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria, appearing alongside Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, who serves as Lagos State's Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment. Also confirmed is Chidera Ibekwe, Procter and Gamble's Country Manager for East and Central Africa, giving this year's programme a mix of policy and multinational corporate perspectives right from the top of the bill.
The rest of the lineup pulls in voices from banking, FMCG, telecoms and fintech. Dr Nkiru Olumide-Ojo of Standard Bank Group and Gloria Nwabuike of AACE Foods are both confirmed, alongside Tolulope Medebem of Aster Integrated Marketing Limited, Funmi Osineye of Nestle Nigeria, and Diageo's Bodam Taiwo. HerVest's Solape Akinpelu, MTN Nigeria Chief Marketing Officer Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, and TGI Group's Kenneth Iruonagbe round out that portion of the roster.
A handful of additional names complete the confirmed speaker list: Dr Tola Bamigbaiye-Elatuyi, who heads the Society for Corporate Governance in Nigeria, Union Bank's Chief Brand and Marketing Officer Olufunmilola Aluko, PZ Cussons' Head of Marketing Martha Kayode, IHS Nigeria's Director of Sustainability Titilope Oguntuga, and Esosa Osagiede of Insight Publicis.
According to convener Joshua Ajayi, this year's sessions, held under the theme "Grow, Give, Glow: Building Resilience for Distinction," are built around four core threads: resilience, continuous learning, mentorship and authentic leadership. Rather than keeping talks purely motivational, the programme leans into practical strategies attendees can apply directly to their own career paths.
The day runs as a single, packed programme combining the main conference sessions with an exhibition floor, a gala dinner and an awards ceremony. The standout moment on the awards side remains WIMCA's annual Top 50 Most Influential Women in Marketing and Communications list, a recognition that has become one of the most closely watched parts of the event each year.
Now in its 12th year, WIMCA has built a reputation as the largest gathering of female marketing and communications professionals across Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa, consistently drawing around 1,000 attendees at every edition since its founding in 2014.
This year's organisers are expecting a similar crowd, made up of senior executives, agency leadership, entrepreneurs, academics and professionals earlier in their careers.
With government officials, multinational executives and industry association leaders all confirmed on one stage, this year's speaker lineup gives WIMCA 2026 a genuinely cross-sector view of leadership and career resilience, themes that are likely to run through most of the day's conversations, from the opening keynote through to the closing awards ceremony.
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