Author: Joshua Yusuf
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – Founder and CEO of X3M Ideas, Steve Babaeko, joined a distinguished panel of global industry leaders this past Saturday at Craft Addis 2026, delivering a powerful and practical blueprint for building globally competitive pan African creative businesses. Held in Addis Ababa, the session brought together cross-continental expertise to interrogate the future of Africa’s creative economy, with a focus on scale, structure, and sustainability. Babaeko was joined on the panel by: * Bernard Laurendeau, Managing Partner, Laurendeau & Associates (Japan) * Zekarias Amsalu, Co-founder & MD, Africa Fintech Summit (USA) The session was…
The Macallan, the world-renowned single-malt Scotch whisky, brought its Timeless Collection to Port Harcourt on May 1, 2026, completing a landmark three-city Nigerian rollout that began in Lagos and continued through Abuja. The evening, held at J Signature Hotel, New GRA, introduced the brand’s redesigned Double Cask and Sherry Oak Collections to a city that has long demonstrated a deep and discerning appreciation for premium luxury. This edition drew key personalities from across the city, including The Macallan Brand Influencer Beauty Tukura, Funmi Olowole, Ying Goma, Uwem Etuck, Ayebetari Opara, and Janda Chukuigwe, among others, adding another distinct chapter…
The fourth edition of the Imperfectly Awesome Conversations Summit (IAC 4.0) is set to take center stage on Sunday, May 3, 2026, at the MUSON Centre, Lagos. Building on the growing momentum of previous editions, this year’s summit marks a deliberate shift from inspiration to activation—introducing a structured intervention designed to reshape how individuals navigate identity, adversity, and personal growth in an increasingly demanding world. Positioned as a catalytic platform, IAC 4.0 will challenge prevailing narratives, provoke deeper reflection, and drive a new paradigm across leadership, personal development, and the broader communications ecosystem. Convened by renowned marketing…
The Gathering on 100 has officially concluded its pilot edition, closing out 100 continuous hours of culture, creativity, and community engagement at the National Stadium, Surulere. At the climax of the five-day immersive youth experience, MTN Nigeria and the gatherers of the event unveiled the defining message of the movement: “Live It 100.” The event brought together thousands of young Nigerians in a massive convergence of music, sports, gaming, and creative sessions. From watching the sunrise for four consecutive mornings to actively shaping culture in real-time, attendees experienced a shared journey rooted in endurance and expression. Operating under a partnership…
The Macallan, the world-renowned single-malt Scotch whisky, brought its Timeless Collection to Abuja on April 24, 2026, marking the next chapter of its landmark packaging redesign. The event introduced the brand’s striking new visual identity for the Double Cask and Sherry Oak Collections to Abuja’s most discerning tastemakers, bringing together guests for an intimate evening that celebrated the craftsmanship, legacy and progressive spirit that have long defined The Macallan. Following a successful debut in Lagos, the Abuja edition of the Timeless Collection launch drew key personalities, including music executive and culture advocate Audu Maikori , Princess Jecoco, lifestyle personality…
With the final entry deadline set for May 15, the Gerety Awards has announced a series of global initiatives designed to bring the industry closer to the work and conversations shaping the 2026 shortlist, at a key moment when industry attention turns to the ideas defining the year. The Gerety Awards brings together more than 260 judges from over 50 countries, with executive jury sessions held across major creative hubs worldwide. In the lead-up to judging, Gerety will host a programme of jury insight panels in collaboration with leading advertising trade press and associations. These sessions will bring…
Cannes Lions announces the Dan Wieden Titanium Lions and inaugural Creative Brand Lions Jury line-up Featuring a global collective of industry-defining leaders shaping the future of creativity Lebanon represented on Titanium Lions Jury for the first time 23 April 2026 – The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, taking place 22–26 June 2026, has announced the line-up for the Dan Wieden Titanium Lions Jury and unveiled the inaugural Creative Brand Lions Jury for 2026 – bringing together some of the most influential voices shaping the global creative and marketing landscape. The newly introduced Creative Brand Lion will recognise the visionary…
A steady rise, shaped by discipline and sharpened by strategy, has now found its defining moment as O’tega Ogra stepped onto a broader global platform as Executive Committee of the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA), an elevation that signals both personal distinction and national pride. The announcement, made in Stockholm, immediately positions Ogra at the centre of global marketing conversations. More importantly, it reinforces Nigeria’s growing relevance in shaping how brands, institutions, and audiences connect across continents. Consequently, his new role ensures that Africa’s perspectives will not only be represented but actively influence decisions within the WFA’s global…
Cannes Lions has announced its 2026 programme, which will bring together a diverse community of global creative leaders and changemakers across five days this June. During this year’s Festival, Oprah Winfrey will be honoured as the 2026 Cannes LionHeart – one of the Festival’s highest honours, celebrating an individual who has used their platform to drive meaningful and lasting positive change. Winfrey will deliver a talk on the Lumière Theatre stage at 10am, Tuesday 23 June, ahead of being presented the LionHeart Award at the Awards Show that evening. A global media leader, producer, philanthropist, actress and author, Winfrey has…
The Macallan has officially introduced a refined new visual identity for its Double Cask and Sherry Oak collections, unveiled through the Timeless Collection launch which made its Nigerian debut in Lagos on Friday April 17, 2026. The launch marks the brand’s transition from its existing packaging to a new design and represents a brand evolution moment rather than a simple packaging update, reinforcing The Macallan’s commitment to craftsmanship, progress and premium positioning while maintaining the whisky that has earned the brand its reputation. The updated designs reflect a growing expectation among premium consumers for brands to balance heritage with…