By Jeremiah Agada and Chidimma Ugwunwa
In a recent announcement by the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity, veteran marketing communications professional and strategist, Nnenna Onyewuchi was named as a juror for the Innovation Lions category of the awards.
Onyewuchi’s achievement reflects Africa’s trajectory in strategy and innovation, where women like her are leading the charge. Her dedication and expertise have earned her a place among the global Cannes jury, where she will be able to showcase her skills on a global stage and contribute to shaping the future of the industry.
This recognition comes barely months after she was recognised as the Most Outstanding Creative Advertising Professional of the Year at the last edition of the Women in Marketing & Communication Conference and Awards, WIMCA.
Onyewuchi has over 20 years of experience in the marketing communication industry, spanning multitude of brands across numerous categories including Coca Cola, Absolut, Kohl’s Department Stores, Sharpie, Microsoft, Xbox, British American Tobacco, Dangote, Paga, BlackBerry, Jumia, Oando, Access Bank, FCMB, FirstBank, Canon, MTV Base, Celtel, Zain, Glo, MTN, Girl Effect, and UNICEF, among others.
She was also named as Middle East, Africa and Asia’s second-best Strategist in the released 2022 Official Rankings by the Loeries, a non-profit company and Africa and the Middle East’s premiere initiative that recognises, rewards, inspires and fosters creative excellence in the brand communication industry. Onyewuchi came second behind South Africa’s Rosemary Baronetti and shares the spot with United Arab Emirates’ Rifaat Fakih and South Africa’s Zama Hlophe.
Nnenna Onyewuchi currently sits on several boards and is Chairperson of the Board of West African Vocational Education (WAVE), a non-profit committed to ending youth unemployment in the West African sub-region. Her recognition as a juror for the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity is a testament to her outstanding contributions to the industry and to Africa’s position in the global market.