The National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria has announced plans to host its first-ever LEADHERS in Marketing Conference, a new industry platform focused on advancing women’s leadership and influence within the marketing profession.
The conference, themed “Redefining Influence, Women Shaping The Future Of Marketing,” is scheduled to hold on Friday, March 6, 2026, and is positioned as a strategic industry gathering aligned with the global International Women’s Day season.
The initiative brings together senior executives, emerging professionals, industry leaders, and students for in-depth conversations on leadership, visibility, mentorship, and professional growth in marketing and related sectors.
Speaking on the objective of the conference, NIMN President, Bolajoko Bayo-Ajayi, said the platform was created to deliberately strengthen women’s leadership pipelines and create structured pathways for career advancement.
She explained that while women continue to play critical roles in marketing, there remains a need for intentional frameworks that support leadership development, executive visibility, and measurable impact across the industry.
According to her, the LEADHERS in Marketing Conference is anchored on six core pillars, leadership, visibility, impact, growth, mentorship, and professional development, all aimed at empowering women to lead based on competence, capacity, and results.
The programme will feature keynote and panel sessions with senior professionals across multiple sectors. The keynote address will be delivered by Osayi Alile, Chief Executive Officer of the Aspire Coronation Trust Foundation, who will offer cross-sector perspectives on leadership and influence.
Panel discussions will include insights from Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka of MTN Nigeria, Adebola Williams of Promasidor Nigeria, and Chioma Afe, Director of External Affairs, while a fireside chat session will feature Folashade Soetan, Chief Executive Officer of Ikeja Electric.
NIMN stated that the conference goes beyond symbolic representation, noting that it is a deliberate intervention aimed at preparing women for executive leadership roles, strengthening mentorship structures, and positioning Nigeria as a centre for marketing leadership development.
The LEADHERS in Marketing Conference is free and open to marketing professionals, corporate executives, students, and key stakeholders across the marketing and communications ecosystem.
