President Tinubu’s Aide, O’Tega Ogra, Elected President of ADVAN
...as Industry Leaders Challenge Brands to Win Through Affordability, Trust and Innovation
In a significant development for Nigeria’s marketing communications landscape, O’Tega Ogra, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Digital Communications, Engagement, and New Media Strategy, has been elected President of the Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN) at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Lagos. The election ushered in a new era of leadership for the association, while industry leaders challenged brands to rethink growth strategies and make trust their strongest competitive advantage during the Association’s Executive Leadership Session held immediately after its 2026 AGM at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
Ogra, who is also a member of the Governing Council of the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA), takes over from Osamede Uwubanmwen. During his tenure, Uwubanmwen strengthened industry collaboration, advocacy, and stakeholder engagement across Nigeria’s marketing communications sector.
The AGM also saw the election of a new Executive Council to support ADVAN’s strategic direction. Gloria Nwabuike was elected First Vice President, Maurice Igugu as Second Vice President, Seni Ogunkola as Treasurer, Adeola Amosun as Publicity Secretary, and Cassandra Uzo-Ogbugh, James Odejimi, Martha Ojei Kayode, Omobolanle Osotule, and Oge Maduakwu joined as Executive Council Members. Ediri Ose-Ediale continues as CEO of the Association.
Expressing gratitude after his election, Ogra praised his predecessor for laying a robust foundation:
“I would like to sincerely thank our immediate past President, Osamede Uwubanmwen, for his sacrifice, commitment, and outstanding work in advancing the interests of advertisers and strengthening our industry. We are committed to building on the solid foundation that has been laid as we work together to position ADVAN for even greater impact.”
He outlined his vision for the association, emphasising enhanced industry collaboration, innovation, professional development, and constructive regulatory engagement to create a more conducive environment for brand owners and advertisers.
Addressing the industry regulator, Ogra called for dialogue over confrontation:
“Sometimes you can’t use the same weapons that you used to fight a war to solve the war. Let’s see how we can get the people who consider themselves our enemies back to the table. We are ready to meet as partners in an atmosphere of mutual respect because the industry stands to benefit more from collaboration than conflict.”
Following the AGM, the ADVAN Executive Leadership Session featured keynote addresses from Dr. Doyin Salami, Managing Director/CEO of Kainos Edge Consulting Ltd., and Crystal I. Berger, Founder and CEO of EBO and Vettify.
Dr. Salami’s presentation, titled “The New Rules of Growth: Navigating Nigeria’s Evolving Economy and Consumer Landscape,” highlighted that while Nigeria’s macroeconomic outlook is improving, businesses must adapt to a marketplace where affordability now drives consumer decisions.
“Volume is replacing price,” he explained, urging companies to prioritise affordability, innovation, operational efficiency, and deep consumer insights. He stressed that agility, strategic regulation, and capital allocation will increasingly determine competitive advantage.
In her presentation, “The Future of Brand Trust: Thriving in an AI-Powered World,” Crystal Berger challenged organisations to prioritise trust as artificial intelligence reshapes business and consumer engagement.
She warned that the rise of AI-generated content, deepfakes, and digital misinformation has made trust one of the most valuable assets for any organisation:
“Attention gets you noticed. Trust gets you chosen.” She urged brands to go beyond visibility by investing in credibility, transparency, and verification. Berger emphasised that organisations capable of building trust infrastructure today will be better positioned to lead in tomorrow’s digital economy.
Members reflected that these insights reinforced the importance of combining sound economic strategies with responsible innovation. As Nigeria’s brands navigate a marketplace increasingly impacted by technology, shifting consumer expectations, and evolving regulations, the focus on trust and collaboration has never been more critical.