WIMCA 2026: Ajayi Charges Women In Marketing, Communications To Build Resilience, Embrace AI
The Convener of the Women in Marketing and Communications Conference and Awards (WIMCA), Joshua Ajayi, has charged women in the marketing and communications industry to embrace continuous learning, collaboration and resilience as critical tools for career growth in a rapidly changing industry.
Ajayi gave the charge in his welcome address at WIMCA 2026, held recently at the Landmark Event Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The all-day conference, themed “Grow, Give, Glow: Building Resilience for Distinction,” featured panel sessions by distinguished industry leaders and a keynote address by the Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Hon. Folashade Bada Ambrose-Medebem.
Ajayi said the theme was particularly relevant as professionals contend with technological disruption and changing expectations in the marketing and communications landscape.
He described “growing” as a commitment to continuous learning, “giving” as supporting other women’s success, and “glowing” as the outcome of building competence and confidence through those efforts.
According to him, resilience should go beyond simply surviving difficult periods and involve building careers and institutions capable of withstanding pressure while creating opportunities for those coming behind.
“Resilience, in this context, isn’t really about gritting your teeth and surviving another hard year. It’s somewhat like architecture; building something that can take pressure without collapsing, that bends instead of snapping,” Ajayi said.
He noted that WIMCA, now in its 12th year, had evolved from an initiative designed to give women in the industry a dedicated platform into a major gathering on Nigeria’s marketing and communications calendar.
Ajayi also highlighted the role of the platform in creating opportunities for mentorship, networking and career advancement, noting that its impact extended beyond the annual conference and awards ceremony.
Also speaking at the event, Ambrose-Medebem, in her keynote address, urged senior women executives to master artificial intelligence rather than be threatened by it, warning that the technology is rapidly reshaping marketing, communications and decision-making.
She advised executives to “understand AI, question it, use it, govern it,” while retaining human qualities such as judgement, empathy, intuition, ethics and emotional intelligence.
The conference later transitioned into the WIMCA Awards, where outstanding women and organisations were recognised for their contributions to the marketing and communications industry. The event also featured the unveiling of the Top 50 Most Influential Women in Marketing and Communications.
Ajayi said WIMCA was ultimately about shaping a stronger future for women in the industry.
“We’re not just hosting an event. We’re helping write what the marketing and communications industry looks like for the women coming up behind us,” he said.