The Group Chief Executive Officer of Prima Garnet Africa, Mr Lolu Akinwunmi, is set to deliver the keynote address at the 2026 Annual Brands and Marketing Conference of the Brand Journalists Association of Nigeria (BJAN), scheduled to hold in Lagos on Friday, November 6.
The conference will examine the growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI) on Nigeria’s advertising and marketing industry, with particular attention to the future role of creative agencies in an increasingly technology-driven business environment.
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Themed “Advertising in Nigeria & AI: Who Needs Creative Agency?”, the event is expected to attract advertising practitioners, marketing executives, brand communication professionals, corporate affairs specialists and technology stakeholders.
Akinwunmi, an experienced advertising professional who leads Prima Garnet Africa, is expected to share perspectives on how AI is changing the creative landscape and what the development means for agencies, brand owners and marketing professionals.
His keynote address will explore the opportunities and challenges associated with adopting AI in advertising, particularly as businesses increasingly rely on technology for content development, audience analysis, campaign planning and consumer engagement.
The growing availability of AI-powered tools has made it easier for businesses to generate content, develop creative concepts, analyse consumer behaviour and personalise marketing messages.
These capabilities can improve production speed and campaign efficiency, but they have also intensified questions about the value and future of traditional creative agencies.
For agencies, the challenge is no longer simply whether to adopt AI, but how to integrate it into their operations while retaining the strategic thinking, originality and cultural understanding that distinguish effective brand communication.
Although AI can support and automate several aspects of creative production, the ability to understand a brand’s identity, interpret consumer needs and develop culturally relevant campaigns remains central to successful advertising.
The conference will also feature the Director-General of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), Dr Olalekan Fadolapo, and Bethel Obioma, Head of Corporate Communications at Sahara Group, among its speakers.
The panel discussion will be moderated by Tolulope A. Modasbem, Chief Executive Officer of Lead Central and author of Integrated Marketing.
Other panellists include Angela Ukara-Makinde, Chief Engagement Strategist at EXP Marketing Nigeria; Adeola Amosun, Group Media Manager at Tolaram Group; Dr Seyi Akindeinde, Founder of Hyperspace Technologies; George Isitu-Okukwe, Chief Executive Officer of TBWA\Concept; and Dr Oludare Ogunyemi, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication at Caleb University, Imota, Lagos State.
Their participation is expected to bring perspectives from advertising, technology, corporate communications, media strategy and academia to discussions on how AI is changing professional practices and the relationship between brands and consumers.
Speaking on the conference, BJAN Chairman, Mr Daniel Obi, said the gathering would provide an opportunity for industry stakeholders to exchange ideas on the implications of AI for brand building and the future of advertising practice.
The conference is expected to encourage a wider conversation about how Nigerian advertising professionals can respond to technological disruption, develop relevant skills and preserve the human insight that gives creative communication its impact.
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As AI continues to reshape the marketing communications landscape, the central question facing the industry is whether creative agencies will lose their relevance or evolve into more technology-enabled partners capable of delivering greater value to brands.
