Mr. Udeme Ufot is a prominent Nigerian advertising icon and the Group Managing Director (and Co-Founder) of SO&U Limited, one of Africa’s leading integrated marketing communications groups. He was awarded the national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) in 2014 for his contributions to the corporate sector.
Ufot is widely recognized for conceptualizing the iconic Guinness Stout campaign “My Friend Udeme,” which established him as a creative genius who rooted brand storytelling in local Nigerian culture. His career began at Insight Communications, where he rose to Deputy Creative Director before co-founding SO&U in 1990.
Key Leadership and Board Roles
- SO&U Limited:Group Managing Director and Co-Founder.
- Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG):Board Member and Chair of the Communications & Media Subcommittee; Private Sector Co-Chair of the Policy Commission on Tourism, Hospitality, Entertainment, Creative Industries and Sports (THECS).
- Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON):Past Chairman.
- Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN):Past President (served in 1997 and 1999).
- LEAP Africa:Board Chair.
- Special Olympics Nigeria:Board Member.
- Pan Atlantic University:Chairman of the Advisory Board for the School of Media & Communication.
Professional Background and Education
- Education:Holds a BA in Industrial Design from Ahmadu Bello University, a Certificate in Management from the Swedish Institute of Management, and a Chief Executive Programme from the Lagos Business School.
- Career History:Worked at Insight Communications (1984–1989) and CASERS (1989) before launching SO&U.
- Recognition:Received the Advertising Legend Award from Marketing Edge in 2023 and the FATE Model Entrepreneur Award in 2012.
- Philosophy:Known for emphasizing humility, authenticity, and the power of local stories in global brand communication. He has consistently declined political appointments to focus on private sector leadership and youth mentorship.