Brandcom - Linking the future

WhatsApp has begun letting users reserve usernames as it prepares for a major privacy update that will allow people to chat without sharing their phone numbers. The feature is rolling out gradually, and users will get a notification when it becomes available in their country. According to WhatsApp, the reservation tool is meant to help users secure a preferred handle before the full username system launches. Users can reserve a username through the app’s settings, under Settings > Account > Username.…

The Association of Corporate Communication and Marketing Professionals in Banks (ACAMB) has called for wider adoption of QR code payments and stronger digital payment systems in Nigeria after a courtesy visit to the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) in Lagos. The group said the move would make payments faster, cheaper and more reliable for customers and merchants. NIBSS Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Premier Oiwoh, said smooth payment systems remain central to financial inclusion and…

The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity has announced the winners of the 2026 Young Lions Competitions, recognising the world's most promising creative talents aged 30 and under across seven disciplines. Sponsored by Adobe, the annual competition brought together more than 400 young professionals from around the world, who were tasked with developing creative solutions for briefs set by charities, non-governmental organisations and purpose-driven companies. Depending on the category, teams had…

The Lead, Marketing Strategy & Innovation at Tolaram Group, Onwudiwe Uche, has challenged marketers to move beyond the race for attention and focus on building trust, insisting that credibility, not visibility, is now the currency that determines brand success. Representing Tolaram Group at the just-concluded Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN), Uche delivered a compelling message that resonated across two major industry engagements, declaring: "Do not just…

The Experiential Marketers Association of Nigeria, EXMAN, will hold its 2026 Annual General Meeting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, from July 16 to 19, as it pushes for tighter collaboration and stronger standards in Nigeria’s experience economy. The four-day convening, themed “Collaboration as Currency”, will bring together agency principals, brand managers, marketing professionals, academics, and students to chart the future of experiential marketing in a landscape shaped by digital disruption and economic headwinds. …

As part of its commitment to nurturing young marketing talent in Nigeria, Tolaram Group has rewarded students with cash prizes and an employment opportunity to the winner of the 2026 NIMN Market-Ready Marketer Competition, held during the Student Marketing Conference in Port Harcourt. The conference, sponsored by Tolaram Group, brought together marketing students from tertiary institutions across Nigeria under the theme, "From Classroom to Marketplace." The event formed part of the 2026 Annual Marketing…

Burson and Carat, among others, emerged winners on day three of the 2026 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, with both names standing out in the festival’s major awards rundown. Carat was named Media Network of the Year, while Burson won the PR Grand Prix and also picked up Healthcare Agency of the Year.   Day three of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity rewarded campaigns that turned smart ideas into measurable impact, handing Grand Prix trophies to works that used data, media,…