Marketing Space, the driving force behind the upcoming Brand Handlers Summit & Awards, has announced that Stephen Oluwatoyin Onaivi, the Managing Director of mediaReach OMD Nigeria, will deliver the keynote address at the summit's inaugural 2025 edition. This significant event is set to redefine marketing excellence across Africa.
A Visionary Leader to Inspire Marketing Excellence
With over 15 years of exceptional leadership across Nigeria, West, and Central Africa, Stephen Onaivi is a recognized luminary in media strategy, planning, and innovation. Before his appointment as MD of mediaReach OMD Nigeria in 2024, he successfully led mediaReach OMD Ghana from 2018. During his tenure, he was instrumental in driving transformative growth for a roster of global brands including Vodafone, Airtel, Google, Uber, Diageo, and GlaxoSmithKline.
Onaivi's impressive background includes alumni status from the University of Lagos (B.A. Philosophy; M.A. Public & International Affairs), Lagos Business School, and London Business School executive education programs. He is also a respected Fellow of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) and served as a jury member for the prestigious Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in 2023. Beyond his professional achievements, he founded the "Play with Stephen" annual golf tournament, an initiative dedicated to supporting autism awareness in Ghana.
Under his guidance, mediaReach OMD notably introduced the "OMD Consumer Intelligence" platform, leveraging advanced analytics to provide real-time brand insights. This innovation coincided with the agency's celebration of 25 years of leadership in the industry. His extensive expertise and unwavering commitment to innovation make him the ideal choice to open the maiden Brand Handlers Summit, a gathering poised to set new benchmarks for marketing in Africa.
Redefining Africa's Marketing Landscape
The Brand Handlers Summit & Awards 2025, themed “Advancing Nigeria's Marketing Ecosystem To Drive Brand Growth,” is scheduled for Friday, August 29, 2025, at Regency Hall, Otunba Jobi-Fele Way, CBD, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, commencing at 3:00 PM.
Lukman Ishau, Publisher of Marketing Space magazine and Convener of The Brand Handlers Summit & Awards 2025, expressed his excitement about the keynote speaker. "We are thrilled to welcome Mr. Stephen Onaivi as our keynote speaker. His visionary leadership, marked by pioneering media intelligence tools and fostering regional growth, embodies the standards we aim to set at our summit. His address will set the tone for a transformative dialogue.”
Ishau further emphasized the significance of Onaivi’s selection, stating, “Selecting Stephen as the first speaker in our maiden summit reflects his proven ability to bridge strategy, technology, and people. He represents the change-makers who will define the future of African branding.”
The Brand Handlers Summit & Awards is envisioned as one of Nigeria’s foremost gatherings for marketing minds and brand custodians. It will offer unparalleled networking opportunities, facilitate knowledge exchange, and provide a vital platform for recognizing outstanding contributions within the marketing and communications industry. The 2025 summit promises a dynamic agenda filled with thought-provoking discussions, practical workshops, and a celebration of marketing excellence.