Africa’s digital economy is accelerating, and Nigeria with its creative powerhouses, youth-driven culture, and digital-led integrations continues to set the pace. This year, one of the clearest signals of this momentum came as Nigerian digital strategist Olawande Meyungbo received the Digital Marketing Leader of the Year award at the prestigious 2025 Marketing World Awards in Accra, Ghana.
- Strengthening Africa’s Digital Creativity Through Nigerian Excellence
- “Nigeria has everything it needs to lead Africa’s digital future.” – Olawande Meyungbo
- A Journey Rooted in Learning, Reinvention, and Digital Transformation
- Championing Digital Empowerment for the Next Generation
- Why This Matters for Nigeria; and for Africa
The honour is more than an individual achievement; it is a reflection of how Nigerian digital professionals are increasingly shaping conversations, best practices, and impact across the continent.
Strengthening Africa’s Digital Creativity Through Nigerian Excellence
From Afrobeats to fashion to digital adoption, Nigeria has long been seen as a hub for cultural influence, but in recent years, it has been carving its place as a leader in digital strategy, martech adoption, and data-driven communication. Olawande represents this new wave of Nigerian professionals who combine creativity with analytical depth and technical know-how. His work across sectors such as: digital media agency (Starcom Media Perspectives), banking (Fidelity Bank PLC.), technology (Fastryders), and FMCG (Promasidor Nigeria Ltd.) contributes to setting Nigeria as a country whose digital practices are built on audience-driven insights; leveraging technological opportunities, and adaptive thinking.
Winning the award in Ghana, among pan-African contenders, signals something important: Nigeria’s digital talent is influencing Africa’s marketing future.
“Nigeria has everything it needs to lead Africa’s digital future.” – Olawande Meyungbo
For Olawande Meyungbo, this recognition reinforces his belief in Nigeria’s role as a continental digital powerhouse.
“Nigeria has everything it needs to lead Africa’s digital future driven by creativity, hunger, speed and talent,” he says.
“This award is not just a personal win; it’s a reflection of what Nigerian digital professionals are capable of when given the right environment and tools.”
He views his journey as part of a wider story: one where young African professionals are proving that excellence built in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt, or any part of Nigeria can stand tall on any African stage.
A Journey Rooted in Learning, Reinvention, and Digital Transformation
Olawande’s cross-sector experience from his early days as a digital media strategist and account manager at Nigeria’s leading media agency to being a Digital Marketing Specialist within banking communications space, to driving sustainable growth at tech mobility startup, and steering digital transformation in FMCG; has shaped him into a hybrid professional capable of unlocking the sweet spots that lie at the intersection of technology and consumers.
In a market where digital behaviours evolve quickly, he has built a track record of:
- Leading martech adoption through marketing initiatives he led at Fidelity Bank with internal and external campaigns that led to growth of the bank’s Online banking application and other digital products of the foremost Nigerian bank.
- Building acquisition funnels that delivered significant growth in adoption and usage of Fastryders techmobility platform, hence sharpening his product-led thinking
- Driving data-led decision frameworks in enhancing consumer engagement for Promasidor brands
- Training brand teams on digital maturity through several mentorships and training (Teenagers in Tech, Dreams Media Digital Marketing Academy, etc.)
- Developing optimisation workflows
- Applying global best practices to African contexts
These demonstrate why he was selected as the Marketing World Awards winner in a pan-African category.
Championing Digital Empowerment for the Next Generation
Olawande’s work extends beyond corporate boardrooms. He has become a visible advocate for digital empowerment across Nigeria speaking at youth and tech events, training emerging marketers, and mentoring young talents.
He is an active facilitator of digital and AI marketing training programs, teaching foundational and advanced strategy to early-career professionals. His session at the Teenagers in Tech Conference, “From Zero to Digital Hero,” equipped young Nigerians with the knowledge and confidence to explore careers in digital technology.
He also supports SMEs, and young digital marketing practitioners helping them understand how to harness digital tools to grow sustainably. Olawande leads the AI Marketing faculty at Dreams Media Digital Marketing Academy.
This ecosystem work reinforces his belief that Africa’s digital transformation will only happen if knowledge is shared widely.
“Africa’s biggest export is talent. When we invest in skills and structure, our young people will build the future,” he says.
Why This Matters for Nigeria; and for Africa
This recognition reinforces three truths about the continent’s digital evolution:
- Nigeria is a leader in Africa’s digital transformation
- African marketing is shifting towards data, technology, and measurable growth
- Young professionals like Meyungbo are defining Africa’s next chapter
As the region accelerates into a digital future powered by fintech, AI, ecommerce, and consumer data, professionals who combine creativity with analytics like Olawande Meyungbo are becoming essential voices.
