The atmosphere at Landmark Event Centre on the 18th of November sparkled with excitement amid cheers and accolades as deserving brands such as Flour Mills of Nigeria, Unilever, Access Bank and a host of others smiled home with different awards for their outstanding performances, and opportunities created for women to thrive. The event was the just concluded 2023 Women in Marketing and Communications Conference/Awards (WIMCA).
The occasion attracted captains of industries, top government dignitaries, top female industry players, business owners and the media.
At the event, Flour Mills of Nigeria was recognized as the Most Outstanding Food Manufacturing Company in Gender Inclusion, the company’s FMN Women Network won an award as the Most Outstanding Brand-Centric Women Community of the Year in Food Sector Segment while Golden Penny Semovita won the Most Outstanding Semolina Brand of the Year.
Unilever emerged as the FMCG Company in Women Empowerment while one of its leading brands, Knorr emerged as the Iconic Seasoning Brand of the Year.
Access Bank won big at the awards as it went home with four different awards. Access Holdings emerged as the Most Outstanding Financial Service Group Supporting Women, Hydrogen was recognised as a Fast-Growing Fintech Company in Gender Inclusion, Access Women Network won the Most Outstanding Brand-Centric Women Community in the Financial Sector while Access Bank itself was recognised as the Most Outstanding Bank in Gender Inclusion.
Other top brands that were recognised and awarded include Coca-Cola, Cadbury, Morning Fresh, 2sure, Onga, Gino, AXA Mansard, Dangote Cement, First Bank, Mega Growth, Interswitch, Sara by Wema, Standard Chartered, Stanbic IBTC and others.
The largest gathering of female professionals in brands and marketing communications also celebrated the industry’s foremost leaders such as Omobolanle Victor-Laniyan, Rosemary Egabor-Afolahan, Bolanle Osotule and others in the top 50 most influential women in marketing communications.
Outstanding individuals such as Rosemary Egabor-Afolahan, Ifunanya Obiakor, Chiaka Eluchie, Omoefe Ohworakpo and others were also recognised for their excellent performance in the individual category of the awards.
Earlier in his welcome speech the convener of WIMCA and Publisher of Brand Communicator, Mr. Joshua Ajayi said that the WIMCA platform was designed to provide mentorship opportunities for current and prospective professionals to help ignite and propel women towards attaining enviable heights in marketing and management performance.
As part of his promise in the previous year, Mr. Ajayi announced the unveiling of the WIMCA online platform called ‘WIMCA Network’. He revealed that the creation of the WIMCA Network was in response to the consistent call for the WIMCA platform to be expanded beyond a yearly programme, to a global platform that will create a sustainable community where members can interact daily.
The two-day event featured panel sessions involving seasoned and distinguished industry leaders like Nana Milagrosa, Mabel Adeteye. Abiola Salami. Victor Afolabi and Tolulope Medebem.
Solape Akinpelu and Kayode Oladapo were the Keynote speakers at the event.
The event also had masterclasses, a two-day exhibition and product tasting by different brands and other initiatives that made WIMCA 2023 very robust, engaging, exciting, and memorable for all attendees.
CAPTION:
L-R: Mr. Gboyega Okosile, Chief Press Secretary to Lagos State Governor; Tolulope Medebem Chief Executive Officer at Aster Integrated Marketing Limited and Mr. Joshua. Ajayi, convener of WIMCA and Publisher of Brand Communicator at 2023 WIMCA held at Landmark Event Centre, Lagos recently.
