The corporate communications practice is an interesting but challenging one. It comes with certain dynamics and intricacies that require the practitioner to be passionate, skillful, experienced, and well-trained. Africa’s corporate communications landscape is to a good extent filled with bright minds.
Here are five of West Africa’s finest corporate communications professionals.
Sophia Lissah
Sophia Kudjordji Lissah is a Ghanaian Corporate Communications expert. She
started her career as a Journalist at Ghana News Agency. She also built a
successful career at the British High Commission, Volta Region Community Water
& Sanitation, and UT Holdings. She is currently the Chief Communications
Officer at Jospong Group.
Sophia Lissah is an alumnus of the University of Ghana, the University of Cumbria,
and the Ghana Institute of Journalism. She holds professional membership of the
Chartered Institute of Public Relations and the Chartered Institute of
Marketing.
Sophia Lissah is the recipient of Ghana’s most promising Public Relations
Professional award (2012), and Public Relations Personality of the year award
(2019). She was listed as one of the top 20 Marketing and Communications
Professionals by InstinctWave in 2019.
Tomi Ogunlesi
With over 12 years of cognate experience in strategic brand building, business
development, and marketing, Tomi Ogunlesi has established himself as one of West
Africa’s finest Corporate Communications experts.
The Nigerian professional has designed and implemented marketing and
communication campaigns that help communicate brand value and move markets,
while working for companies like Volcano Advertising, The Jupiter Drawing Room
& Partners, Promisador, Bates Cosse, and First Bank of Nigeria, amongst others.
He is currently the Head of Corporate Communications at Interswitch Group, a
position he has been occupying for over five years. Tomi Ogunlesi is a member
of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, the National Institute of Marketing of
Nigeria, and the Nigerian Institute of Management.
He is a contributing writer to various marketing and communications’
publications, including BusinessDay, Brand Communication, Interbrand
Worldwide’s Brand Channel, and M2 – The Journal for Marketing & Management.
Francesca Uriri
Francesca Onomarie Uriri is a Nigerian communications professional with
expertise in content development, event management, perception, and crisis
management. She has worked with a number of companies ranging from start-ups to
NGOs, and Fortune 500 companies, providing insightful ideas and implementing
strategies that help build brands.
Francesca is an alumnus of the China Europe International Business School. She
sits on the board of the Future Projects, organizers of the Future Awards,
Africa. She is the Head of Communications at Uber, West Africa.
Esther Amba Cobbah
Esther Amba Numaba Cobbah is the Lead Communication Strategist and CEO at
Strategic Communications Africa located in Ghana. The Ghanaian woman has worked
at a number of organizations, including the Ghana Industrial Holding
Corporation, and the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation.
Her skillfulness in designing and implementing communication strategies that
grow brands and strengthen initiatives led to her appointment as the first
External Affairs Manager for the West Africa Gas Pipeline Project Consortium
(consisting of Shell, Chevron, NNPC, the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, and the gas companies of Togo and Benin).
The University of Ghana alumnus is a recipient of a number of awards, including
the Institute of Public Relations Ghana “PR Personality of the year” (2013),
Marketing Woman of the Year award (2012) by the Chartered Institute of
Marketing Ghana, Media Personality of the year (2010) award, amongst others.
Esther is a member of the International Communication Association and the
International Public Relations Association. Leveraging over 30 years of cognate
experience in the communications field, Esther Cobbah established the center
for Development and Intercultural Communication (CEDIC), an NGO that seeks to
promote and facilitate development through communication.
Nkiru Olumide-Ojo
Nkiru Olumide-Ojo is a Nigerian Corporate Communications professional with
expertise in brand marketing, market positioning, and reputation management.
The Kingston University alumnus has worked on a broad range of projects and
accounts, providing insightful ideas and brilliant communications strategies
for a number of companies, including Airtel, Forte Oil, Virgin Nigeria, amongst
others.
In 2008, Nkiru Olumide-Ojo was recognized as one of the “top 40 females under
40” by Nigerians In Diaspora Professionals (NIPRO). She was also the recipient
of the Best Corporate Brand Manager Award by the Brand Journalists Association of
Nigeria in 2017, to name but a few.
Nkiru Olumide-Ojo is currently the Regional Head of Marketing and
Communications at Standard Bank Group, South and Central Africa. She is a
sought-after speaker, inspiring men and women to maximise their potentials.
Source:
bizwatchnigeria.ng