Nigeria’s rapidly evolving digital landscape was the focus of discussions at the Digital Growth Summit, where industry leaders emphasized the urgent need for businesses to embrace data-driven strategies, technology adoption, and customer-centric digital solutions.

The event, hosted in collaboration with Intense Group and Leadway Group, examined the future of digital marketing and the opportunities available to Nigerian businesses in an increasingly connected marketplace.

Leye Makanjuola, CEO of Intense Group, underscored the importance of leveraging data for effective digital campaigns.
“The biggest mistake is not being data-focused,” he said. “You need to know how much you’re putting into digital efforts and what outcomes you expect. Partnership between the client and agency sides is also essential—revenue generation cannot be pursued in isolation.”

Femi Adebayo, Executive Director at Leadway Pensions, highlighted the critical role of digital transformation in the financial services sector.
“We must take advantage of digital platforms to capture people’s attention and turn it into purchase decisions,” he said. According to him, digital channels provide the broadest reach for acquiring and managing customers.

Diana Mulili, Head of Digital Business at Leadway Holdings Group, spoke on the company’s digital roadmap and commitment to enhancing customer engagement.
“We believe technology will be central to the future of customer interaction,” she stated. “We’re aligning with Intense to build a roadmap that allows people to access products and services seamlessly via digital platforms.”

Mulili added that Leadway plans to leverage the strong brand equity of Leadway Assurance to improve awareness and customer acquisition across its subsidiaries.

Ikeh Chidi, Creative Director at Intense, emphasized storytelling and real-time engagement as critical tools for capturing audience trust.
“We must meet audiences where culture is being shaped. Signals are everywhere, and as we move into 2026, consolidating this data will be key to business growth.”

Timilehin Oyedeji, Senior Client Partner at Aleph, described Nigeria as a high-potential digital market.
“With over 220 million people and more than 50% internet penetration, the opportunities for awareness, customer acquisition, and retention are massive,” he said.

He advised brands to avoid common digital marketing pitfalls by developing solid products, understanding target audiences, leveraging appropriate touchpoints, and ensuring seamless conversion experiences.

Mulili also highlighted the effectiveness of relatable content.
“When you create content people can connect with, that’s when you capture attention. It shortens the distance between the brand and the customer.”

The summit concluded that the future of Nigeria’s digital economy—especially within the financial sector—will be driven by analytics, automation, personalized engagement, and strong digital partnerships.

Makanjuola reaffirmed Intense Group’s commitment to investing in technology and media.
“There’s huge market potential, but it requires persistence and smart strategy. We’re doubling down on data, technology, and media investments.”

Adebayo also reiterated Leadway’s technological direction:
“Technology is essential for us. It will play a major role in shaping customer engagement going forward.”

Overall, the summit emphasized that Nigerian businesses must prioritize digital transformation to unlock new opportunities, boost competitiveness, and accelerate growth in the digital age.