From John Silas
It was recognition of exceptional contribution to brand storytelling, corporate communications, and strategic marketing across multiple industries as the Group Head of Marketing and Communications at CapitalSage Holdings, Ilabeshi Gabriel, emerged the Outstanding Marketing and Communications Professional of the Year at the 2025 Marketing Edge Awards.
Reflecting on the honour, Gabriel stated that when he began his journey in marketing and communications, his curiosity was simple: how do you turn a brand into a living, breathing story that people believe in?
“That curiosity has shaped a career where strategies evolve into stories and stories transform into sustainable growth,” he stated. “I see this award as a reminder that passion, consistency, and clarity of purpose are never wasted.”
This honour comes as Ilabeshi marked five years of building and leading at CapitalSage Holdings, a diversified conglomerate with interests spanning agribusiness, fintech, FMCG and healthcare.
Under his leadership, the group has built strong brands, including Johnvents Group, Kolomoni (Nigerian & The Gambia), ERCAS, and Johnvents Foods, among others – all united by a shared mission to build sustainable businesses with global reach.
Gabriel, who previously held key roles at RED For Africa as Head of Strategy and Planning, Pulse (formerly Ringier) as Head of Creative Strategy an Client Services, and Porter Novelli as Account Management and Strategic Planning Executive, has been instrumental in positioning CapitalSage and its subsidiaries as leaders in their sectors through innovative campaigns, strategic partnerships and impactful storytelling.
The 2025 awards marked a triple slam for CapitalSage Holdings, with Johnvents Group named Outstanding Indigenous Conglomerate of the Decade; and founder and Group Managing Director of CapitalSage Holdings, John Alamu, winning the Business Conglomerate Leadership Award, in addition to Ilabeshi’s honour.
His professional journey reflects more than a decade of experience shaping narratives that connect brands to culture and commerce.
