Nigeria is indeed home to brilliant minds making unparalleled impacts in their various chosen professions across the globe.
Despite the monstrous security challenges bedeviling the country, Nigerians have refused to dim their shinning lights to the full glare of the entire world. At home and in Diaspora, Nigerians are notable for their resilience, courage and ingenuity. One of such Nigerians shinning her bright light is Mrs. Bridget Oyefeso-Odusanmi.
With a career spanning over 22 years in brand strategy, sponsorships, digital marketing and communications, Oyefeso-Odusami grew steadily from being a Marketing Manager with Aero Airlines to becoming the Head, Marketing and Communications of Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC.
Her steady rise through the ranks in the industry is indeed sweet but not without its challenges particularly because of the discrimination against career women in this part of the world. However, she gradually sailed through the storm and as intelligent, young and smart as she may look, Oyefeso-Odusami attains the golden jubilee age today!
Bridget Oyefeso-Odusami bagged a Bachelor of Science degree in Botany from Lagos State University, and a Post Graduate degree from the University of Leicester, UK, before foraying into marketing communications.
Career journey
She was Marketing Manager of Aero Airlines for six months, and was with British Airways for nine years, serving in several various marketing and sponsorship positions.
Her professional recognition started back from her time managing the British Airways corporate image in Nigeria and other African countries, where she received the highest ratings for creativity, innovation and dedication for functional responsibilities at British Airways Plc, the best of British Airways community volunteering award.
She served as Executive Director at Change-A-Life between September 2009 and June 2010, and was also Head, Sponsorship and Event at First Bank Nigeria Limited for over six years.
Oyefeso-Odusami served as Corporate Investment Banking Marketing Manager at Stanbic IBTC for over a year, before assuming the position of Head, Marketing and Communications department in acting capacity. The appointment was confirmed in January 2019.
It was in this position that she emerged winner of the Outstanding Corporate Communications Personality of the Year 2019 at the MARKETING EDGE Marketing and Advertising Awards of Excellence. According to the presiding board, her versatility and inspiring growth in the Corporate Communications sector and performance in the marketing, advertising and brand management environment, had distinguished her among other nominees.
In August 2020, Oyefeso bagged another responsibility. She was appointed Non-Executive Director of the Stanbic IBTC Asset Management Limited Part-time.
Professional qualifications
She is a certified member of professional bodies such as Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), UK, National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria, NIMN and an associate member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR). She is also a member of Women in Business and Management (WIMBIZ), and has taken part in different global business and economic summits.
Other interests
Outside the business of marketing and brand communications, Oyefeso-Odusami mentors women and joins missionaries to reach out to widows in Northern Nigeria. She is also actively involved in a couple of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).
She attributes much of her successes to constant self-development, worklife balance, and properly apportioning time to work, family and self.
Giving an insight into her success power in a recent interview, the celebrated banker said: “Stay true to your commitments and give no room for excuses. Having the right support system also makes the balancing act easier. I believe they go hand in hand and flow into one another, with one fuelling the other and giving it room to flourish.”
She also noted that she had been fortunate to work in organisations that allowed her to grow and rise as far as her talent and desire could take her, irrespective of gender, and had the privilege of good career mentors.
To cap her beautiful journey, Oyefeso-Odusami also writes. Incidentally, her long awaited book, Built for the Storm: Journeying through Life’s Wounds, Healings and Scars is due for launching/release today as part of activities marking her inspiring journey to 50 years.
Newsclickng.com family wishes the erudite banker a beautiful birthday celebrations and more career successes.
