Mabel Adeteye, a senior executive at Nigeria's Wema Bank, will help judge the continent's most prestigious public relations and communications campaigns next year. The Holmes Report, which organizes the SABRE Awards, confirmed Adeteye's appointment to the 2026 jury for its Africa region. This places a leading figure from Nigeria's financial sector at the center of evaluating work that shapes corporate and brand reputations across Africa.
Adeteye's role at Wema Bank involves significant communications and stakeholder engagement responsibilities, providing direct experience relevant to the awards' focus. The SABRE Awards Africa specifically honor superior achievement in branding, reputation, and engagement. Jurors are tasked with reviewing entries that demonstrate creative strategy and measurable impact in these areas.
The jury selection process for the awards typically seeks industry leaders with proven expertise in managing public perception. Adeteye's inclusion suggests her work at Wema Bank is recognized as a benchmark within the broader African business community. Her perspective will contribute to setting the standard for excellence in strategic communications for the coming year.
For Wema Bank, this appointment extends its influence beyond the financial services sector and into the realm of professional standards for corporate storytelling. It signals that the bank's approach to reputation management is held in high regard by international awards bodies. Such recognition can bolster the institution's own brand as an employer and industry leader.
The 2026 awards cycle will see Adeteye and fellow jurors assess campaigns from across the continent, from North Africa to the Southern tip. Entries span categories including corporate communications, brand marketing, public affairs, and digital media. The jury's decisions will ultimately highlight which strategies are deemed most effective in the current African market.
Past winners of SABRE Awards Africa have included multinational corporations, government agencies, and non-profit organizations. The awards have served as a key indicator of emerging trends and high-budget campaigns in the region's communications landscape. Adeteye's participation ensures the Nigerian and banking sector viewpoints are represented in this influential evaluation.
The appointment comes as African economies navigate complex narratives around digital transformation, sustainability, and economic inclusion. Communications campaigns addressing these themes are likely to feature prominently in the 2026 submissions. Jurors like Adeteye will weigh how effectively these critical issues are communicated to diverse stakeholders.
Adeteye will begin her jury duties as the call for entries for the 2026 SABRE Awards Africa is announced later this year. The judging process will culminate in an awards ceremony, likely in the first half of 2026, where the winning campaigns will be unveiled.
