By Adetunji Faleye
President Tinubu has announced the appointment of O’tega Ogra, a suave communication strategist, perception consultant and public relations professional as his Senior Special Assistant on Digital and New Media.
O’tega was the group head/director, brands and corporate communications at BUA Group from June 2015 until his appointment as SSA to the President. The ideator and implementer of the BUA Group’s strategic communication was responsible for charting and driving a strategic communications and brand management strategy for the BUA Group and its subsidiaries with responsibilities including internal communications, brand strategy and advertising; product marketing brand marketing communications; crisis and reputation management, media and public relations; events and sponsorship; executive communications, corporate affairs, and corporate social responsibility and sustainability.
He managed the BUA Group’s covid19 interventions and developed the framework for the setup of Africa’s largest private philanthropy, The Abdul Samad Rabiu Initiative for Africa (ASR Africa) and its annual 100m USD Africa Fund for Social Development and Renewal.
He was also responsible for investor and stakeholder communications related to the listing of the cement and foods subsidiaries which are today the 4th and 5th largest companies by market capitalisation on the Nigerian Stock Exchange with $ 6 billion market value (as at 2023 Jan.)
Before joining BUA, he was a founding partner at Ten & Square from January 2011 to March 2017, spanning 6 years 3 months. At Ten&Square, he was a creative ideation consultant bringing custom creative project to fruition for clients.
He also worked with Wema Bank Plc for 3 years 10 months as head, brand management within the Bank as well as implementing a brand repositioning programme for the Bank which culminated in the launch of a new brand identity in May 2015.
In October 2008 to September 2011, O’tega was the corporate communications manager at Guaranty Trust Bank. There, he co-led the first use of social media/digital marketing as a communications platform in the banking industry in Nigeria (2009). He also developed an interactive communications platform/online e-zine called NDANI for brand management and communications which has now evolved into a full-fledged media platform.
He planned the communications launch and was part of a team that developed Nigeria’s first tertiary institution focused bank account – GTCrea8.
O’tega also worked with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit as head, corporate communications and digital marketing unit head. He was there from October 2007 to September 2008.
There, he oversaw and managed five projects related to women empowerment, child’s rights, maternal and child health, HIV/AIDS/reproductive health and good governance.
O’tega has worn many hats over the course of his career. He is a brand strategist, digital marketer, content creator, crisis manager, salesperson, corporate communications expert, event organizer, web designer, business manager and entrepreneur.
He attended Babcock University and bagged Bachelor’s degree in public health. He is a member of Chartered Institute of Public Relations. A fellow of The Chartered Institute of Marketing, and also a member of IABC.
