Designed as a high-trust, executive platform, the Circle brings together the most influential voices in marketing to shape strategy at the highest levels of business and public policy.

Convened by MarkHack in partnership with StatiSense and Brand Communicator, the CMO Circle operates at the intersection of enterprise leadership and national development.

Beyond dialogue, the Circle institutionalises its influence through the quarterly CMO Index, a flagship publication that aggregates executive sentiment, market intelligence, and forward-looking insights to inform policy conversations and economic decision-making.

In doing so, the Circle positions marketing leadership as a critical voice in shaping Nigeria’s business environment and policy direction.

As Co-Chairs, Ukoh and Akinwunmi will curate and lead high-level discussions focused on innovation, talent density, enterprise growth, and the expanding mandate of the CMO within the C-suite. Their stewardship reinforces the Circle’s role as a convening authority, one that not only reflects industry thinking but actively defines it.

Ukoh, chief executive officer of Entod Marketing and former Director of Marketing Services at Nestlé Nigeria, is widely regarded for her leadership in brand strategy, consumer engagement, and cultural storytelling.

Akinwunmi, Group CEO of Prima Garnet (Ogilvy Nigeria), brings decades of experience advising leading national and multinational brands, alongside a distinguished record of industry leadership.

Commenting on the announcement, Dr. Victor ’Gbenga Afolabi, convener of MarkHack and the CMO Circle, stated:

“The CMO Circle is intentionally designed as a premium, outcomes-driven platform, one that moves marketing leadership beyond the boardroom into the sphere of policy influence. With Iquo Ukoh and Lolu Akinwunmi as Co-Chairs, we are setting a clear tone of authority, depth, and relevance. Through the CMO Index and our quarterly convenings, the Circle will play a defining role in shaping both industry direction and policy dialogue.”

The inaugural 2026 session, themed “The C-Suite Mandate: Talent Density and Marketing Leadership,” will convene a curated network of CMOs and business leaders, reinforcing the Circle’s position as the definitive forum for strategic influence, peer exchange, and policy-relevant insight in Nigeria’s marketing ecosystem.

In its unwavering drive to support the growth and development of marketing and media industries, and inspire the next generation of marketing and media professionals in Nigeria, GDM Group, in partnership with Eko Innovation Centre has flagged off MarkHack 2.0, with the theme ‘Unlocking The Power Of The Creative Economy’.  

MarkHack is Nigeria’s first-ever marketing and media hackathon, and the second edition MarkHack 2.0 will bring together the brightest minds in the creative industry to develop innovative solutions to real-time marketing and media challenges.

Victor Afolabi, CEO and Founder of GDM Group and Eko Innovation Centre and Curator, Art of Technology Lagos restated his commitment to the growth and development of media and marketing industries in Nigeria. According to him, “Marketing is the most effective engine of economic development as it can rapidly develop entrepreneurs and significantly transform the media and marketing industries in Nigeria”.

He further stated that MarkHack was conceptualized to make a difference with the goal of bringing together innovators, entrepreneurs, policymakers, marketing professionals, disruptors and corporate bodies to create solutions to real-life marketing challenges in an intense period of 3 months, using creativity, technology, mentoring, resulting in prototypes, fresh new concepts, and innovative usages of tech for marketing and media.”

Nigeria’s creative industry is the country’s second-largest employer and has the potential to produce 2.7 Million jobs by 2025 with a major contribution from Entertainment, and Media (The lifeblood of Marketing). With this rise of digital media, social platforms, and the increasing use of technology, the creative industries stand among the most dynamic sectors in the world economy providing new opportunities for developing countries Like Nigeria to leapfrog into emerging high-growth areas of the world economy.

Markhack 2.0. will run for 3 months and it features a launch event, pitch sessions, workshops, masterclasses, and mentorship sessions to help participants develop their skills and provide them with the resources they need to turn their ideas into market-ready products. Finalists will have a chance to join an accelerator program with up to $10,000 equity investment and a chance to be mentored by industry experts for 3 months.

Applications are open for innovations in immersive experiences, content marketing, and robo-marketing. With the support of industry experts, investors, and potential partners, participants can turn their ideas into market-ready products and make a real impact on the industry.

To apply, click MarkHack 2.0