In a celebration of innovation, technology, and storytelling, the company also took home the award for Best Use of Data in a Marketing Campaign at the Nigeria MarTech (MarkHack 4.0) Awards Night.

This award recognizes brands that have successfully transformed data into compelling narratives and actionable insights to meaningfully engage their audiences.

Akinbulejo Onabolu, senior manager, Segment Management, Enterprise Business at MTN, joined a panel to discuss the power of immersive technologies on consumer behaviour.

Drawing from MTN’s launch of its 5G Digital Experience Centre in Abuja last year, Onabolu highlighted the rapid evolution of immersive technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) stating

“Our 5G centre is a sandbox for our customers to come and see how technology can shape things. At the launch event, we unveiled a smart city to customers, clients and dignitaries in attendance, with gaming and other tech experiences.” 

On the intersection of data, AR and VR, he added:

“Co-creating with MTN takes our minds to a platform where different partners, companies and creators can bring their buildings, products and businesses for people to see via augmented reality and connectivity, just swiping through and following through that journey. As a part of impacting our customer’s lives, a few years ago, we also played around with the Metaverse and we ended up creating some of our back-office processes with some of our customer journeys on augmented reality and virtual reality such that a customer somewhere can engage with a virtual agent to solve real life problems and integrating that back into our operating systems. As an organization, at a lot of our events, you will find a lot of AR and VR experiences.”

Speaking on how MTN is embedding immersive technology into its day-to-day operations, he explained that the company is prioritizing both internal capability development and external engagement.

“85% of our organization has undergone extensive training on AI and that already is a great addition to our daily lives. We’re using it to do things differently, developing user journeys and brainstorming different things. In terms of Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality, we are working with organizations to develop training programs which we use internally.”

He described the bases for this tech as stable connectivity, high bandwidth, high speed and low latency.

“Over the past year, we’ve doubled our 5G capacity across the entire country. Wherever you are, you’ll probably start to pick up 5G. With our FibreX service, we’re going way beyond connectivity to create the systems and platforms to support the ecosystem, AR and VR. In addition to this, we’re also engaging regulatory systems to start to tease this out and build the proper governance.”

The session, moderated by Daniel Adeyemi, managing editor at Condia Business, also featured insights from leaders in FMCG, consulting, and global marketing, all underscoring the transformative potential of immersive technologies for Africa’s future.

This award event aims to promote and honour innovation in marketing technology. The vision of the Nigerian MarTech Awards is to cultivate a vibrant ecosystem where creativity and technology intersect, driving growth and engagement throughout the Nigerian market.

As the marketing technology sector continues its rapid evolution, the Nigerian MarTech Awards will provide a vital platform for showcasing exceptional contributions in this dynamic field.

With a focus on excellence, creativity, and technological advancement, the awards will highlight individuals, campaigns, and organizations that are setting new benchmarks in digital engagement, customer experiences, and marketing strategies.

Award Categories

The awards will feature three main categories—Individuals, Campaigns, and Organizations—with a total of 10 awards aimed at celebrating excellence across various dimensions of marketing technology.

1. Individual Category:

• Marketing Creator/Influencer of the Year: This award recognizes individuals who excel in engaging audiences and driving conversations through innovative marketing strategies and influence.

2. Campaign Category:

• Most Innovative Content Strategy: Celebrates exceptional content strategies that effectively engage audiences and drive measurable results, showcasing creativity and innovation in content marketing.
• Best Use of Data in a Marketing Campaign: Awards marketing strategies that effectively leverage data analytics for impactful and results-driven campaigns, demonstrating the power of insight-driven marketing.
• Best Social Media Campaign: Recognizes campaigns that effectively harness social media platforms, demonstrating strategic execution and measurable marketing outcomes.
• Most Innovative Virtual Event: Honours outstanding virtual events that advance the online experience, emphasizing creativity and audience engagement in the digital space.
• Best Use of Blockchain in Marketing: Celebrates innovative applications of blockchain technology in marketing, highlighting transparency, security, and new possibilities in marketing strategies.
• Best Use of AI in Marketing: Recognizes innovative applications of artificial intelligence in marketing practices, showcasing how AI can enhance customer experiences and operational efficiency.
• Outstanding Xtended Reality (XR) Experience: Honours remarkable XR experiences that redefine marketing and media, pushing boundaries and creating engaging interactions.

3. Organization Category:

• Top Emerging Technology in Marketing: Celebrates breakthrough technologies that are reshaping how brands connect with audiences and grow in today’s competitive landscape.
• Best Future-Focused Marketing Team: Honours marketing teams that exemplify a commitment to innovation and a proactive, future-oriented mindset in their strategies.

Nomination Process

Nominations are now open, and you can submit entries or nominate your favorite game-changers who are shaping the future of marketing technology in Nigeria.

To participate, visit the official website of the Nigerian MarTech Awards here.

MarkHack is Nigeria’s first-ever marketing and media conference, designed as a collaborative gathering of innovators, entrepreneurs, policymakers, media practitioners, and marketing professionals.

This dynamic event aims to create impactful solutions to real-life challenges in the marketing and media sectors within two months.

This year, MarkHack 4.0 is offering an impressive $10,000 prize pool. Within this pool, startups will compete for cash prizes, AWS credits, cutting-edge laptops, and exclusive perks from top tech partners.

Participants will have the unique opportunity to present their MVPs before a panel of leading investors and industry decision-makers. Such exposure can lead to critical funding, partnerships, and mentorship which is very important for a startup’s success.

This application is exclusively open to startups, providing them with a unique opportunity to showcase their Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) that possess the potential to transform their respective sectors. By participating in MarkHack 4.0, startups stand to gain invaluable exposure, access to industry leaders, and a chance to secure funding that can propel them into the next phase of growth.

This year’s theme, “Experience Ignited: Fueling the Consumer Journey,” promises to explore the transformative power of technology in reshaping how brands connect with consumers.

MarkHack 4.0 will feature exhibitions that highlight the latest innovations and provide invaluable networking opportunities, bringing together thought leaders, investors, and entrepreneurs from across the industry.

MarkHack 4.0 redefines how startups innovate and scale by offering a comprehensive platform that integrates immersive education, strategic pitching, and the thrilling dynamics of a hackathon—all crafted to drive real-world impact in the fields of media, marketing, and technology.

Participants can look forward to a stellar lineup of sponsors, jurors, and speakers, including visionary leaders in media, marketing, and technology, as well as renowned tech entrepreneurs who are shaping the digital landscape and key industry players providing expert insights into the future of marketing.

Startups that wish to participate in the competition must go through an application process leading up to the grand finale.

Startups that apply will have the opportunity to pitch during the virtual session taking place from May 7th to 11th, 2025. Also mentors will be available from April 23rd to May 14th to provide guidance and support throughout the process.

The workflow will involve submitting an application via the designated platform, where each startup’s MVP will be evaluated based on its innovation, scalability, and market relevance.

Once the initial selection is made, the shortlisted startups will prepare for pitches that will showcase the unique value propositions of their products.

The grand finale will take place on Friday, May 23rd, 2025, at 9:00 AM WAT at the Landmark Event Center, Victoria Island, Lagos. It promises to be a day filled with innovation, networking, and the potential for transformative business growth.

MarkHack 4.0 also prioritizes the growth and development of participating startups. Through hands-on mentorship and strategy sessions, participants will receive guidance from experts who are deeply entrenched in the world of innovation.

This kind of support ensures that each startup is positioned to thrive within the competitive landscape of their industry.

Furthermore, participants will have access to incubator programs and high-impact workshops designed to refine their business strategies and scale their operations effectively.

The networking opportunities at MarkHack 4.0 are unparalleled, allowing founders to connect with visionary leaders, tech innovators, and like-minded disruptors who share a passion for transforming industries.

The future of your startup starts here at MarkHack 4.0. If your MVP is ready to make a significant impact, this is the moment to shine. Don’t miss the chance to showcase your startup, pitch to top investors, and compete for a share of the $10,000 prize pool.

• Application Deadline: March 29th, 2025
• Apply now at the link here

Join the team at MarkHack 4.0, where innovation meets opportunity, and take the first step towards transforming your startup’s future!

This year’s theme, “Experience Ignited: Fueling the Consumer Journey,” promises to explore the transformative power of technology in reshaping how brands connect with consumers.

MarkHack 4.0 is set to immerse startups in innovative solutions across immersive realities, digital storytelling, event innovation, gamification and phygital commerce, paving the way for the future of marketing and consumer engagement.

Victor Afolabi, CEO of GDM Group and Eko Innovation Centre, expressed the vision behind this event:

“MarkHack 4.0 calls on marketing professionals and innovators to embrace tech-driven evolution for impactful storytelling, elevating the consumer journey and engagement. Our platform unites brilliant minds every year to redefine how brands connect with audiences, setting new benchmarks for tech-driven marketing.”

From its early days as a growth-focused hackathon at MarkHack 1.0, this dynamic initiative has evolved to meet the ever-changing needs of the industry.

Today, MarkHack is more than just a platform for pitching ideas—it’s a full-scale conference that brings together established startups with proven products, market traction, and revenue generation, all under one roof.

The conference is set to take place on  Friday, 23rd May 2025, at the Landmark Event Center, VI, Lagos, MarkHack 4.0 will also host exhibitions showcasing the latest innovations and networking opportunities that bring together thought leaders, investors, and entrepreneurs from across the industry.

MarkHack 4.0 redefines the way startups innovate and scale, offering a comprehensive platform that combines immersive education, strategic pitching, and the excitement of a hackathon—all designed to drive real-world impact in media, marketing and technology.

A stellar lineup of sponsors, jurors, and speakers, including visionary leaders in media, marketing and technology, renowned techpreneurs shaping the digital landscape, and key industry players offering expert insights into the future of marketing.

MarkHack is a conference where media, marketing & tech professionals, policymakers, investors, tech enthusiasts, entrepreneurs, and creatives, converge to shape the future of media, marketing & technology. Registration is now open! Visit markhack.tech for more information.

Be inspired. Be innovative. Be part of MarkHack 4.0.