FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria Marketing Director, Maureen Ifada, has been selected among a new class of African brand and marketing executives recognised through Black At’s 2027 DARE Awards initiative.
Ifada was unveiled as part of the Africa 2 cohort at Black At’s Executive Dinner in Lagos on August 24, joining Mabel Adeteye, Head of Brand and Marketing at Wema Bank, and Amaechi Okobi, Chief Communications Officer at Access Bank.
Brandspur Brand News reports that the recognition places Ifada among executives being highlighted for their leadership, influence and contribution to the development of brands, creativity and communications across Africa.
The Lagos gathering brought together senior professionals in the brand and marketing industry as Black At formally introduced the Africa 2 cohort to its expanding global DARE community. The development followed the launch of the 2027 DARE Awards journey in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The initiative is designed to go beyond conventional awards that primarily celebrate past accomplishments. It focuses on executives who are actively influencing change within their industries and provides a platform for them to share ideas, leadership experiences and perspectives with a wider international audience.
Over the coming year, Ifada and other members of the Africa 2 class are expected to engage with executives and DARE cohorts across Africa, North America, Europe and other international markets.
The programme is expected to provide opportunities for global visibility, thought leadership, professional engagement and collaboration while creating space for conversations around the future of brands, creativity and culture.
For Ifada, the selection adds an international dimension to her work as Marketing Director at FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria and places her among a wider network of executives shaping conversations around consumer engagement and brand leadership.
The recognition also highlights the growing presence of African marketing professionals on international platforms focused on the future of branding, communications and creative industries.
The DARE Awards global programme is scheduled to continue in New York City on September 22, 2026, during the week of the United Nations General Assembly, where Black At is expected to unveil a new North American DARE class.
As the initiative expands across global markets, the DARE Awards is building a network of executives whose work and ideas are influencing the direction of marketing, creativity, communications and brand development.
