Maureen Ifada adds EDGE Leadership honour to growing marketing accolades

Mercy Iheoma Ihedigbo

Marketing Director of FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria Plc, Maureen Ifada, has been honoured with the Leadership Award in Marketing at the 2026 EDGE Awards, adding another major recognition to her growing list of achievements in marketing and brand management.

Ifada received the award at the 14th edition of the EDGE Awards, organised by MARKETING EDGE on Friday, in Lagos.

The ceremony, themed “Celebrating excellence beyond borders,” brought together leading professionals, brands, agencies and business leaders from Nigeria’s marketing communications industry to celebrate outstanding achievements and contributions to the sector.

The latest recognition comes shortly after another significant milestone in Ifada’s career. In August 2026, she was unveiled in Lagos as one of three African marketing and brand leaders selected for the Africa 2 Class of Black At’s 2027 DARE Awards.

She was selected alongside Mabel Adeteye of Wema Bank and Amaechi Okobi of Access Bank.

Two Decades of Marketing Leadership
Ifada’s latest honour comes after more than two decades of experience in the fast-moving consumer goods and marketing sectors.

She joined FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria in 2003 as a Management Trainee in the Consumer Marketing Department and has since risen through several strategic positions to become the company’s Marketing Director.

Over the years, her professional responsibilities have included brand development, consumer marketing and strategic leadership, contributing to her reputation within Nigeria’s marketing and communications industry.

Her influence has also extended beyond Nigeria, with Ifada serving on international judging panels in 2026 for the SABRE Awards EMEA, Native Advertising Awards and International ECHO Awards.

Growing list of industry recognition

The EDGE Leadership Award adds to a series of honours received by Ifada in recent years.
In 2025, she was named Marketing Director of the Year at the Brand Handlers Awards and received the Outstanding Marketing Amazon of the Year award at the EDGE Awards.

She was also recognised as Nigeria Marketing Amazon at the Nigeria Marketing Awards and has twice featured among WIMCA’s Top 50 Most Influential Women in Marketing and Communications.

The latest recognition further highlights her continued visibility within Nigeria’s marketing and brand management landscape.

Speaking at the EDGE Awards ceremony, the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of MARKETING EDGE, Amos Oladele, said the awards recognise professionals and organisations that challenge convention, embrace new ideas and demonstrate exceptional performance.

For Ifada, the latest honour represents another milestone in a career characterised by brand leadership, innovation and continued professional development.

Her recognition also comes at a time when the marketing communications industry continues to place increasing emphasis on innovation, strategic brand building and leadership in a rapidly changing business environment.