WAMCO Director Joins Native Advertising Awards Jury

The marketing director at FrieslandCampina WAMCO, Maureen Ifada has been appointed as a jury member for the 2026 edition of the Native Advertising Awards.

This appointment has been further reinforces her rising influence in global marketing and brand communications.

The Native Advertising Awards, organised by the Native Advertising Institute, recognise excellence and innovation in branded content, storytelling and digital advertising across the world.

Ifada will join an international panel of senior marketing and media professionals responsible for evaluating entries from brands, agencies and publishers pushing the boundaries of creative brand engagement.

Her appointment adds to a growing list of prestigious global judging roles that have positioned her among Africa’s most respected marketing leaders.

In recent years, she has served as a judge for the International Content Marketers Award and has also been selected as a jury member for the SABRE Awards EMEA, platforms that celebrate excellence in marketing, public relations and brand storytelling worldwide.

Ifada brings more than two decades of experience in marketing and sales within the fast-moving consumer goods sector.

She began her career at FrieslandCampina WAMCO in 2003 as a management trainee and rose through the ranks to join the company’s management team in 2024, where she now leads marketing strategy for some of Nigeria’s most iconic dairy brands, including Peak Milk and Three Crowns Milk.

Over the years, she has been widely recognised for driving impactful brand strategies and consumer-focused campaigns. One of her most notable achievements includes the repositioning of Three Crowns Milk through the “Healthy Mums, Happy Families” campaign, which strengthened the brand’s relevance in Nigeria’s competitive dairy market.

Her contributions to the industry have earned her several accolades. In 2025, she was named Marketing Director of the Year at the Brand Handlers Awards and also received the Outstanding Marketing Amazon of the Year honour at the Marketing Edge Awards.

She has also been listed among the Top 50 Most Influential Women in Marketing and Communications in Nigeria by WIMCA, highlighting her role in shaping the country’s marketing landscape.

Beyond her corporate achievements, Ifada is regarded as a thought leader in brand building and marketing strategy, known for championing innovation, mentorship and industry development across Nigeria and Africa.

Her appointment to the Native Advertising Awards 2026 jury not only underscores her personal accomplishments but also reflects the growing global recognition of African marketing expertise in shaping the future of brand communication.