Ufot is the group managing director of SO&U, one of Africa’s foremost marketing communications groups.

The announcement was made in a statement on Friday. It follows the recent confirmation that the summit will take place on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at Radisson Blu Hotel, Isaac John Street, Ikeja, Lagos.

Themed “Financing as Catalysts for a Thriving Creative Economy,” the summit will bring together key figures in the creative space—including industry leaders, investors, policymakers, and emerging talents—to discuss ways to boost the sector’s growth and sustainability.

Olumide Iyanda, chief executive officer of Mighty Media Plus Network Limited and Convener of the summit, said Ufot’s career achievements and support for the creative economy make him an ideal choice.

“The summit will explore innovative funding solutions, fostering partnerships between creatives and investors, and provide tools for effective financial management. It will also serve as a space for collaboration between creatives, industry leaders, and policymakers to drive sustainable growth,” Iyanda said.

He recalled Ufot’s long-standing relationship with QEDNG, dating back to the platform’s launch in 2014. According to him, Ufot’s guidance and encouragement helped shape QEDNG’s direction and identity.

“Mr Ufot’s position as chairman will underscore his role as a thought leader and champion of Nigeria’s creative industry. His leadership and insights will inspire participants to pursue innovation and excellence, reinforcing the importance of strategic collaboration. It will also highlight his pivotal contributions to the advancement of the creative sector in Nigeria,” Iyanda added.

Ufot began his career in 1984 at Insight Communications, where he rose to the position of Deputy Creative Director (Art). In 1989, he joined CASERS as Creative Director.

Just six months later, he co-founded SO&U, which has since become one of Nigeria’s most respected advertising agencies.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and has also completed programmes at the Swedish Institute of Management and the Lagos Business School.

Over the years, Ufot has held several leadership roles in the industry. He served as President of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) and Chairman of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON).

He also chairs the Board of the Policy Innovation Centre, sits on the board of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), and co-chairs its Policy Commission on Tourism, Hospitality, Entertainment, Creative Industries and Sports (THECS).

Ufot is committed to developing future industry leaders. He mentors young professionals and lectures at the School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University, where he chairs the advisory board.

He is a past President of the Lagos Business School Alumni Association and former Board Chair of LEAP Africa, a non-profit organisation focused on youth leadership and entrepreneurship. He also serves on the board of Special Olympics Nigeria.

In 2014, the Federal Government of Nigeria honoured him with the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) for his contributions to the corporate sector.

The QEDNG Creative Powerhouse Summit is open to a broad audience, including artists, filmmakers, musicians, designers, advertisers, academics, and financial institutions.

It is expected to be a landmark event for collaboration, innovation, and investment in Nigeria’s creative economy.

This award demonstrates 9mobile’s strong belief in the power of advertising to bring out the brand’s essence and build a truly Nigerian company.

Receiving the award, Saidat Lawal-Mohammed, the Director of Marketing Communication at 9mobile, appreciated the organizers for the recognition and stated that it would challenge the company to do even better in championing the cause of creativity in the country.

“We commend AAAN for their achievements in the last 50 years to the development of creative practices in advertising and every other form of engagement between brands and consumers. The discussions at this event focused on what needs to be done moving forward, not just for Nigeria but for all of Africa, and we are confident that in another 50 years, we will be talking about it being accomplished”, Lawal-Mohammed added,”.

The theme for the anniversary was “50 Years Young, Ready For More.”

Steve Babaeko, President of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN), stated that “9mobile has remained committed in its support of the advertising practice in Nigeria, and we are most optimistic as an association that we can continue to count on the brand as a source of growth and inspiration.”

To mark this milestone, the company will be hosting a week-long digital marketing bootcamp for Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs), themed ‘Leveraging Possibilities for SMEs in The Digital Age.’

The bootcamp which is the first edition is designed to empower SMEs to seize the growth opportunities presented by the digital era. During the bootcamp, participants will be armed with the best digital marketing tools, tips, trends, tactics and strategies from leading industry experts that will support them in their quest to actualise their full potential as well as shape how they connect with their target audiences.

Speaking on the initiative, Tosin Adefeko, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer, AT3 Resources, said, “In the course of our journey, we frequently encounter small medium businesses who desire communications interventions but do not have the requisite knowledge or resources to support their growth. In commemoration of our milestone 5th anniversary, we decided to lend our support to the growth of small businesses in tune with our belief that SMEs are the lifeblood of our economy”.

The bootcamp will be facilitated by a blend of digital marketing and communications experts such as Nkiru Olumide-Ojo, Founder, The Lighthouse Network; Frankline Ozekhome, Pop Culture Strategist; Rufai Oseni, Global Speaker & Development Expert; Ugochukwu Obi-Chukwu, Founder, Nairametrics and Oluwasola Obagbemi, Corporate Communications Manager, Anglophone West Africa, Meta among many others.

To enrich the learnings, 10 business leaders/corporate titans and accomplished entrepreneurs are lined up to share their personal ‘Recipe for Success’ nuggets with the participants. On the line up are Aishah Ahmad, Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria; Asue Ighodalo, Founding Partner, Banwo & Ighodalo; Austin Okere, Founder, CWG Plc; Dr. Biodun Shobanjo, Chairman, Troyka Holdings Limited; Dimeji Salaudeen, Partner, KPMG; Folake Soetan, CEO, Ikeja Electric; Ibukun Awosika, Founder/CEO, The Chair Centre Group; Osayi Alile, CEO, ACT Foundation; Steve Babaeko, CEO/Chief Creative Officer X3M Ideas, President, AAAN; and Tara Fela-Durotoye, CEO, House of Tara International.

The digital marketing bootcamp will enable SMEs to take advantage of growth prospects in the digital media era.

The bootcamp will include a deep dive into areas like, online reputation management, communications strategy, digital marketing, brand & visuals, and the ‘Always on’ Entrepreneur.