Wema Bank executive appointed 2026 SABRE Awards juror
CHIGOZIE AMADI
Mabel Adeteye, the Head of Brands and Marketing Communications at Wema Bank Plc, has been officially appointed as a jury member for the 2026 SABRE Awards Africa. The appointment places one of Nigeria’s leading communications strategists at the heart of the continent’s most prestigious recognition platform for public relations and reputation management.
The SABRE Awards, according to a statement on Wednesday, are organised by PRovoke Media and are globally recognised for honouring campaigns that fuse high-level creativity with measurable business outcomes. Adeteye joins an elite panel of senior professionals tasked with evaluating over 500 submissions from across the continent.
Reflecting on the role’s significance and the current state of the industry, Adeteye noted that the African PR landscape is undergoing a fundamental transformation.
“The SABRE Awards remain one of the most respected global benchmarks for strategic communications. African communications are evolving beyond execution into true strategic leadership where insight, culture, business outcomes, and societal impact connect,” Adeteye stated.
She further emphasised the weight of the appointment, noting that while she has served on various international panels, this selection carries a unique weight: “Over the years, I have had the privilege of serving on different juries across communications and marketing platforms. Each experience comes with responsibility, but this one felt different.”
The 2026 jury are responsible for assessing entries based on innovation, strategic insight, and their overall contribution to advancing industry standards. Industry observers view Adeteye’s inclusion as a testament to the growing influence of African practitioners on the global stage.
The organisers highlighted that this year’s awards will continue to spotlight the innovation shaping the future of the field: “This year’s awards will continue to spotlight innovation and excellence shaping the future of communications across Africa and beyond.”
With over 15 years of experience, Adeteye’s portfolio spans brand strategy, corporate reputation management, and integrated media campaigns. A member of the Forbes Communications Council, she holds prestigious accreditations from the CIPR (UK), NIPR (Nigeria), and the CIM (UK). Her leadership at Wema Bank has been characterised by high-impact initiatives that align corporate goals with societal engagement.
The event is held in partnership with the Public Relations and Communications Association and will feature a shortlist of over 120 campaigns selected from a highly competitive pool of pan-African entries.
