The National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN) has unveiled a groundbreaking initiative, “LeadHers in Marketing,” aimed at mentoring, empowering and advancing women within Nigeria’s marketing profession.
For decades, women have played a central role in shaping brand narratives, understanding consumer behaviour and driving the creative energy of the marketing industry. Yet, their representation often diminishes at the highest levels of leadership.
The new initiative seeks to address this long-standing imbalance and create a stronger pathway for women to rise to executive leadership positions.
Speaking at the unveiling in Lagos, President of NIMN, Dr. Bolajoko Bayo-Ajayi, described the LeadHers in Marketing initiative as a transformative movement aimed at institutionalising gender equity across the marketing profession.
She stressed that deliberate and sustained action is required to ensure women are adequately represented in leadership and decision-making roles within the industry.
“Women have always been a powerful force within Nigeria’s marketing ecosystem, but their representation at the highest levels has not fully reflected their contributions, LeadHers in Marketing is our commitment to creating a structured pathway for women to lead, influence strategy and shape the future of the profession.
For Nigeria to remain a global hub of marketing excellence, our leadership must reflect the full spectrum of talent available to us, this initiative ensures that women are not only present in the room but are shaping the decisions that drive business and national growth, ” she said.
At the heart of the initiative is a six-pillar framework designed to drive measurable impact across the profession. The pillars are Leadership, Visibility, Impact, Growth, Mentorship, and Professional Development that provide a comprehensive roadmap for empowering women at different stages of their careers.
Dr. Bayo-Ajayi explained that the initiative is built on a six-pillar framework designed to deliver measurable impact.
According to her, the Leadership and Growth pillars focus on equipping women with the strategic thinking, ethical grounding, and resilience required to navigate complex executive environments.
She added that Visibility and Mentorship are intended to break psychological and social barriers by fostering a “see it to be it” culture, where experienced professionals actively guide and inspire emerging talents.
She further noted that the Impact and Professional Development pillars are structured to ensure that these efforts translate into tangible organizational success and meaningful career advancement for women in the marketing profession.
She mentioned that the program is structured to support women across the entire marketing ecosystem, from rising professionals and agency leaders to academics and industry executives, creating a sustainable pipeline of female leadership.
The official launch will feature keynote remarks by Osayi Alile, CEO of the ACT Foundation, whose participation reflects the initiative’s belief that the principles of leadership and strategic influence extend beyond industry boundaries.
Scheduled to take place on Friday, March 6, 2026, at the Civic Centre, Lagos, will convene C-suite executives and industry leaders including Folake Soetan of Ikeja Electric, alongside notable marketing and communications professionals such as Chioma Afe, Adebola Williams, and Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka.
The initiative will also receive institutional backing from the Lagos State Ministry of Commerce, represented by Honourable Commissioner Folashade Bada Ambrose, underscoring the broader economic and national significance of advancing gender equity in professional leadership.
