FrieslandCampina’s Maureen Ifada Wins Marketing Leadership Award at 2026 EDGE Awards

FrieslandCampina’s Maureen Ifada Wins Marketing Leadership Award at 2026 EDGE Awards
Maureen Ifada, Marketing Director of FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria Plc, has been recognised with the Leadership Award in Marketing at the 2026 EDGE Awards, further strengthening her profile within Nigeria’s marketing and fast-moving consumer goods industry.
Ifada received the honour during the 14th edition of the EDGE Awards, held on September 25 at the Ten Degrees Event Hall in Oregun, Lagos.
Organised by MARKETING EDGE, the 2026 ceremony was held under the theme “Celebrating Excellence Beyond Borders” and brought together professionals, agencies, brands and business executives from Nigeria’s marketing communications sector. Marketing Edge Magazine
The award recognises Ifada’s contributions to marketing, brand development and business leadership during a career that has lasted more than two decades.
Her journey with FrieslandCampina WAMCO began in 2003 when she joined the company as a management trainee in its Consumer Marketing Department. She subsequently held a number of commercial and marketing positions before joining the company’s management team as Marketing Director in February 2024. FrieslandCampina Nigeria
Before becoming Marketing Director, Ifada served in roles including Head of Channel and Category Development and Head of Shopper Marketing. Her responsibilities included developing channel strategies, improving retail and shopper conversion and supporting digital transformation initiatives across markets in Sub-Saharan Africa. FrieslandCampina Nigeria
The EDGE Award is the latest in a series of recognitions for the FrieslandCampina executive.
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 recognition at the EDGE Awards. She was subsequently honoured as Nigeria Marketing Amazon at the Nigerian Marketing Awards. Marketing Edge Magazine
She has also appeared twice among the Top 50 Most Influential Women in Marketing and Communications recognised by WIMCA.
Beyond Nigeria, Ifada has participated in the wider international marketing industry. In 2026, she served on judging panels connected with the SABRE Awards EMEA, Native Advertising Awards and International ECHO Awards. Marketing Edge Magazine
Her profile within the African marketing industry also received another boost in August, when she was announced among three African marketing and brand executives selected for the Africa 2 Class of Black At’s 2027 DARE Awards. ThisDayLive
MARKETING EDGE Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief Amos Oladele said the EDGE Awards are intended to recognise professionals and organisations that demonstrate innovation, strong performance and a willingness to challenge conventional approaches within their industries. Marketing Edge Magazine
For Ifada, the 2026 honour adds another milestone to a professional career built around consumer marketing, brand strategy and commercial growth in Nigeria's competitive FMCG sector.