Nigeria’s advertisers will examine how artificial intelligence, shifting consumer behaviour and economic uncertainty are redefining brand leadership and business growth
The Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN) is set to convene marketers, chief executives, brand custodians and business leaders later this month for what promises to be one of the industry’s most strategic conversations on the future of marketing, with artificial intelligence, consumer trust and economic resilience dominating the agenda.
Scheduled for 23 July 2026 at the Radisson Hotel, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos, the association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Executive Leadership Session will bring together senior decision-makers to examine how brands can remain credible, competitive and profitable in an increasingly AI-driven business environment.
Beyond its statutory governance responsibilities – including the election of a new Executive Council to steer the association’s next phase of leadership – the gathering will focus on the strategic issues reshaping Nigeria’s marketing communications industry.
Among the highlights is a keynote conversation titled “The Future of Brand Trust: Thriving in an AI-Powered World,” which will explore how organisations can build and protect trust as artificial intelligence transforms customer engagement, marketing communications and information ecosystems.
The session will be led by Crystal Berger, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of EBO and Vettify, whose work focuses on developing trust infrastructure for artificial intelligence and digital media environments.
According to ADVAN, Berger’s presentation will examine the growing challenges organisations face in preserving credibility as AI-generated content, automation and digital platforms increasingly influence public perception and business decision-making.
Before founding EBO and Vettify, Berger spent more than a decade in broadcast media, serving as a Senior Booking Producer and National Feature Host at Fox News, where she coordinated thousands of media engagements across the United States.
Her current work centres on developing systems for trust verification within emerging AI ecosystems and has received recognition from several organisations supporting technology innovation and entrepreneurship.
Complementing the AI discussion will be a keynote presentation by Dr. Doyin Salami, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of KAINOS Edge Consulting Limited and former Economic Adviser to the President of Nigeria.
Dr. Salami will deliver a presentation titled “The New Rules of Growth: Navigating Nigeria’s Evolving Economy and Consumer Landscape,” examining the economic forces influencing business performance, consumer confidence and corporate growth strategies.
The session is expected to address how organisations can respond to inflationary pressures, changing consumer spending patterns, policy developments and accelerating digital transformation while maintaining competitiveness.
Commenting on the event, ADVAN President Osamede Uwubanmwen said the leadership session comes at a defining moment for the marketing communications profession.
“The 2026 AGM and Executive Leadership Session come at a defining moment for our industry. As business leaders navigate a rapidly changing economy and an increasingly AI-driven marketplace, the need for insight, agility and trust has never been more critical.”
According to him, bringing together experts in economics, technology and trust will provide advertisers with practical insights needed to build stronger brands and more resilient businesses in an increasingly complex marketplace.
ADVAN said the event reflects the association’s continuing commitment to strengthening professional leadership, promoting industry knowledge and supporting sustainable brand growth across Nigeria’s marketing ecosystem.
BrandiQ Insight
The Marketing Industry Is Entering the Trust Economy
ADVAN’s choice of theme is significant because it reflects a profound shift in the role of marketing. For decades, marketers competed primarily on visibility, creativity and market share.
Today, those metrics are no longer sufficient. Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how content is created, distributed and consumed. Consumers are becoming more sceptical of digital information, while businesses are operating in an environment characterised by economic uncertainty, technological disruption and declining institutional trust.
In this context, trust is emerging as one of the most valuable commercial assets a brand can possess. The decision to pair a discussion on AI with an economic outlook by Dr. Doyin Salami also reflects an important reality: marketing decisions can no longer be separated from macroeconomic conditions. Inflation, consumer purchasing power, exchange-rate pressures and digital transformation are increasingly shaping how brands communicate, innovate and grow.
Perhaps more importantly, the event signals a broader evolution within Nigeria’s marketing profession. Industry associations have traditionally focused on advertising standards, networking and professional development. ADVAN’s agenda suggests that advertisers are now engaging with issues that extend beyond communications into technology governance, consumer psychology, business strategy and economic resilience.
That evolution mirrors developments in leading global markets, where Chief Marketing Officers are increasingly expected to contribute to enterprise strategy rather than simply oversee advertising campaigns.
For Nigerian marketers, the message is clear. The future will not belong solely to brands with the biggest advertising budgets or the most creative campaigns. It will belong to organisations capable of combining trust, technology, strategic intelligence and economic adaptability to create lasting value for customers and society.
