Rather than treating digital adoption as an optional enhancement, speakers argued that it has become central to competitiveness. Discussions spanned data maturity, storytelling, audience engagement, automation, and the role of technology in expanding access to financial services.
Intense Group CEO Leye Makanjuola stressed that the biggest pitfall for companies is failing to anchor their digital efforts in measurable data. Businesses, he said, cannot rely on intuition alone.
“The biggest mistake is not being data-focused… You need to know how much you’re putting into it and how much you expect digital to bring out of that experiment or campaign.”
Makanjuola added that collaboration between internal marketing teams and external agencies is essential for achieving revenue goals: “You can’t do it alone… It has to be a partnership.”
For the financial services industry, digital transformation is becoming indispensable. Femi Adebayo, Executive Director of Leadway Pensions, described digital platforms as a primary channel for reaching current and potential customers.
“We need to take advantage of digital platforms to capture people’s attention and turn it into purchase decisions… The biggest reach is digital,” he explained, noting that the sector’s aspirations include deeper penetration and broader customer acquisition.
Also speaking on Leadway’s digital direction, Diana Mulili, Head of Digital Business at Leadway Holdings Group, highlighted the company’s ambition to streamline customer access through integrated digital systems.
“We believe technology will play a big role in driving the future in terms of engagement with customers,” she said. Mulili emphasized the importance of leveraging Leadway Assurance’s strong brand equity to elevate visibility and conversion across the group’s subsidiaries, ensuring that digital pathways offer both ease of access and consistency.
Creative Director at Intense, Ikeh Chidi, focused on trust-building—a critical factor in a digital era defined by choice and constant information flow.
“We must be able to view that trust in the mind of the target audience, and the best way is to be present in real time where culture is being shaped,” he said. Chidi encouraged businesses to consolidate and interpret the “signals” generated across consumer touchpoints, especially as the country moves into 2026.
Representing the media-tech perspective, Senior Client Partner at Aleph, Timilehin Oyedeji, pointed to Nigeria’s potential: a population exceeding 220 million, with internet penetration surpassing 50%.
“That is a huge opportunity for any brand… to create awareness, acquire customers, build relationships, and drive retention,” he noted. Oyedeji cautioned, however, that businesses often falter by misunderstanding their audience or failing to simplify conversion points. Strong products, seamless touchpoints, and targeted communication, he said, remain essential.
“When you create relatable content that has stories people can connect with, that’s when we grab attention,” she explained. Oyedeji reinforced this point by stressing the growing importance of personalization—profiling customer segments and tailoring messages to their needs.
By the end of the summit, a clear consensus had emerged: Nigeria’s digital future will be shaped by companies that prioritize data analytics, automation, and customer-focused digital design. With strategic investments and strong cross-industry partnerships, business leaders believe the country can unlock deeper growth in the digital era.
Makanjuola closed by reaffirming Intense Group’s commitment to driving digital adoption.
“There’s a lot of market opportunity… We are going to double down on investment in data, technology, and media.”
Adebayo echoed that sentiment from the financial sector’s standpoint: “Technology for Leadway is very essential… It will play a big role in driving the future.”
The Digital Growth Summit ultimately served as a reminder that Nigeria’s business landscape is at a pivotal moment—one where digital readiness will increasingly determine which companies rise, innovate, and thrive.