SO&U boss Udeme Ufot named chairman of inaugural QEDNG Creative Powerhouse Summit

Mighty Media Plus Network Limited, publishers of the leading online newspaper QEDNG, has announced Udeme Ufot, Group Managing Director of SO&U, as the Chairman of the inaugural QEDNG Creative Powerhouse Summit.

The summit, scheduled for Tuesday, August 12, 2025, will take place at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Isaac John Street, Ikeja, Lagos. It will convene major stakeholders in Nigeria’s creative economy to discuss funding opportunities, innovation, and sustainable growth in the sector.

Themed “Financing as Catalysts for a Thriving Creative Economy,” the event aims to foster strategic partnerships among creatives, investors, policymakers, and industry influencers. Discussions will focus on unlocking funding models and enhancing financial literacy within the creative space.

In a statement issued on Friday, Olumide Iyanda, Chief Executive Officer of Mighty Media Plus Network Limited and Convener of the summit, said Ufot’s appointment as chairman reflects his extensive experience and longstanding support for Nigeria’s creative industries.

“Mr Ufot is not only a celebrated industry leader but also a key supporter of the QEDNG platform since its inception in 2014. His leadership will enrich the summit’s mission of fostering collaboration, innovation, and excellence,” Iyanda said.

He described Ufot’s contributions as pivotal to the evolution of QEDNG, noting that his encouragement and strategic insight helped shape the platform’s vision from its early days.

A veteran in the advertising and communications sector, Udeme Ufot began his career in 1984 at Insight Communications, rising to the role of Deputy Creative Director (Art).

He later joined CASERS as Creative Director in 1989 before co-founding SO&U just six months later. Under his leadership, SO&U grew into one of Nigeria’s most respected marketing communication agencies.

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Ufot holds a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and has received executive education from the Swedish Institute of Management and the Lagos Business School.

His leadership journey includes roles as President of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) and Chairman of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON).

He currently chairs the Board of the Policy Innovation Centre, serves on the board of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), and co-chairs its Policy Commission on Tourism, Hospitality, Entertainment, Creative Industries, and Sports (THECS).

In addition to his industry roles, Ufot is a mentor to young professionals and chairs the advisory board of the School of Media and Communication at Pan-Atlantic University.

He is also a former President of the Lagos Business School Alumni Association, a former board chair of LEAP Africa, and a board member of Special Olympics Nigeria.

For his significant contributions to the corporate sector, the Federal Government of Nigeria honoured him in 2014 with the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR).

Ufot is married to Dorothy Udeme Ufot, SAN, and they have two children.

The QEDNG Creative Powerhouse Summit is expected to attract artists, filmmakers, designers, musicians, advertisers, academics, and financial institutions. Organisers say it will serve as a dynamic platform for advancing Nigeria’s creative economy through dialogue, innovation, and investment.