The world of marketing is changing fast, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is right at the center of that change. From how brands plan campaigns to how customers interact with businesses, AI is rewriting the rules. It is this wave of transformation that the Brand Journalists Association of Nigeria (BJAN) will explore at its 2025 Annual Brands and Marketing Conference, themed “AI and Marketing Workflow: Disruption or Opportunity?”
The conference will take place on Friday, November 28, 2025, at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, and it promises to be one of the most important gatherings for professionals in marketing, media, and technology this year.
One of the keynote speakers, Folajimi Daodu, Chief Executive Officer of Vault Hill, has urged participants to come prepared for a meaningful conversation about the role of AI in marketing. According to him, AI is no longer an idea for the future; it is already here and shaping the way industries operate.
“AI is no longer a futuristic concept, but a present reality shaping industries and economies,” Daodu said. He explained that while AI comes with both good and challenging sides, it offers a world of opportunities for those who are willing to embrace it. “Like every major innovation, AI has its pros and cons. We must open our minds to the possibilities it brings and also prepare for what could go wrong. AI is here to stay, and we must learn to work with it as co-collaborators,” he added.
The BJAN Conference will bring together top players in marketing, communication, and technology to discuss how AI is influencing creativity, decision-making, and brand growth. It will also look at how Nigerian brands can adapt to these changes while maintaining human connection and creativity.
Joining Daodu on the keynote stage are Dr. Cherry Eromosele, Executive Vice President and Group Chief Marketing and Corporate Communications Officer at Interswitch Group, and Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, Director General of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON). Dr. Fadolapo will speak on “AI and Advertising Regulation in the Digital Age: Challenges and Opportunities,” a session expected to address how advertising standards can evolve in the face of rapid technological change.
The conference will also feature a panel discussion that will deepen the conversation around AI’s impact. The panel will include Lanre Basanta, Co-founder and CEO of Optimum AI Labs; Morolake Emokpaire, Marketing Lead at Cadbury Nigeria Plc; Austin Onyebuchi, Chief Information Officer at UBA; Dr. Seyi Akindeinde, Chief Technical Officer at Digital Encode; and Emma Adeniran, an ICT expert. The discussion will be moderated by Adayo Odulaja, Secretary of BJAN.
This year’s conference will have Udeme Ufot, Managing Director and CEO, as the Guest of Honour, while Daniel Obi, National Chairman of BJAN, says the 2025 edition is designed to help professionals understand how AI can improve marketing efficiency without losing the human touch.
He noted that the BJAN conference has, over the years, become a platform where stakeholders come together to share ideas that shape the future of brand communication in Nigeria. “Each year, we create space for honest discussions that move the industry forward. This year’s focus on AI is timely because it’s already changing how we create, market, and connect,” Obi said.
As brands continue to explore smarter ways to reach their audiences, this year’s BJAN conference will shine a light on the real question facing today’s marketers: Will AI disrupt marketing as we know it, or open doors to new opportunities?
Whatever the answer, one thing is clear: The future of marketing will not be complete without AI in the conversation.
