The Pitcher Festival of Creativity has announced Obi Asika, Mike Miller, Yash Deb, Dawn Rowlands, and Nthabiseng Lekoaletsoe as distinguished Jury Presidents for the Pitcher Awards 2025.
Obi Asika, the President of the Entertainment Jury, brings over 30 years of experience as a key driver and leader of Nigeria’s creative industries. Recognized by millions across Africa as a Judge on the popular Nigerian Idol TV show, Obi’s impact has been vast, from building Storm 360/Storm Records into a successful entertainment brand to co-founding Social Media Week Lagos. He has been involved in significant cross-sector collaborations and held numerous government positions, contributing to the growth of Nigeria’s creative and cultural space.
Leading the Craft Jury is Mike Miller, Executive Creative Director of X3M Ideas, Lagos, Nigeria. Mike has been putting ideas in front of people for over 30 years, from big brand campaigns to hard-hitting retail promotions. He is strategic, creative, and has won many international awards. Mike shared his excitement, saying, “I am delighted to be the President of the Craft Jury and look forward to seeing the excellence that’s been put into the details in all aspects of craft. Thanks for the opportunity to celebrate the best of our industry across the continent.”
For the Digital Jury, Yash Deb, Co-Founder & Creative Partner of The Bar Africa, Kenya, steps up as President. With experience across 12 countries and 4 continents, Yash has earned a reputation for his creative leadership. He has led award-winning campaigns for top brands and believes in falling madly in love with a problem to bring great ideas to life. His innovative spirit and deep understanding of digital landscapes make him a perfect fit to lead this category.
Dawn Rowlands, CEO of Dentsu Africa, will preside over the Good & Effectiveness Jury. Recognized as Business Woman of the Year, serial entrepreneur, and wine lover, Dawn is passionate about innovating to impact society. She looks forward to awarding work that showcases creative brilliance and brings about positive societal impact. “Look forward to awarding work that innovates to impact society, brands, and the planet,” she said.
Nthabiseng is passionate about building brands and pushing boundaries. Following an outstanding performance as Culture Jury President in 2024, She will once again lead the jury in 2025. Speaking of her expectations for the 2025 jury, she said “we’ll be looking for creative work that embodies cultural marketing, deeply connects with consumers, and showcases our distinct yet diverse African creativity, pushing boundaries and creating social impact.”
Dr. Nnamdi Ndu, Chairman of the Pitcher Festival, expressed his excitement for this year’s awards, saying, ‘Pitcher Festival is set to once again showcase and celebrate ideas that will hopefully surpass those of the past. We’re delighted to be working with some of the best talents on the continent, which reassures us that we will definitely exceed expectations.”
