Odiri Erewa-Meggison, director of corporate and regulatory affairs at British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) West and Central Africa, has been recognised as Outstanding Corporate and Brands Communications Personality of the Decade — a distinction that underscores her leadership in shaping strategic communications and sustainability in Nigeria’s corporate landscape.

The award, presented by Marketing Edge Publications Limited, a leading marketing and advertising publication, celebrates her professional excellence, entrepreneurial drive, and long-standing contributions to the marketing communications and regulatory affairs ecosystem.

A lawyer and chartered secretary, Erewa-Meggison holds a master’s degree with honours in International Relations from the University of Kent, Canterbury, and has over two decades of experience across oil and gas, telecommunications, and manufacturing sectors.

She joined the foundation in 2006 as a mid-career recruit and steadily rose through the ranks to hold senior positions within the company and across its global operations.

Her previous roles include head of Government Affairs for West Africa, director of Corporate and Regulatory Affairs for West and Central Africa, and head of Marketing Legal at BATNF Indonesia.

She also served as senior regulatory special projects manager, and later as senior regional external engagement and campaign manager for the Americas and Sub-Saharan Africa, based in Indonesia.

Since returning to Nigeria in 2021, Erewa-Meggison has led the firm’s external engagement and sustainability strategy, aligning local operations with global priorities across five key pillars — tobacco harm reduction, climate, nature, circularity, and communities.

At the award ceremony held recently in Lagos, she expressed gratitude to Marketing Edge and her colleagues, describing the honour as both humbling and motivating.

“I am deeply honoured to receive this award as the Outstanding Corporate and Brands Communications Personality of the Decade,” Erewa-Meggison noted.

“It is a recognition of the value of purposeful and transparent communication in today’s corporate world. At BAT, we remain committed to engaging responsibly, building trust with our stakeholders, and contributing meaningfully to Nigeria’s sustainable growth.”

Erewa-Meggison’s recognition comes at a time when corporate communications in Nigeria are being reshaped by the growing focus on sustainability, reputation management, and stakeholder inclusion.

Her leadership at the foundation has been instrumental in positioning the company as a frontrunner in sustainability reporting and corporate accountability.

Industry analysts say her award reflects a broader shift in Nigeria’s corporate space — where communications leaders are increasingly central to defining business strategy, driving impact, and strengthening public confidence.

According to Marketing Edge, the award recognises “trailblazers whose work has redefined excellence and influence in the Nigerian marketing and corporate communications industry over the last decade.”

Erewa-Meggison’s impact, they noted, exemplifies a new era of corporate leadership — one that blends business insight, policy engagement, and a deep sense of purpose.