…As Newmark marks 15 years of impactful PR dominance
By Cyriacus Nnaji
Newmark Group, a global name in Public relations practice and a leading integrated Marketing Communications Company, with passion for speaking life into brands by enabling them to define and achieve their visibility, engagements and reputation goals, has celebrated the 2025 World PR Day with pomp.
The event aside serving as platform for the unveiling of the African edition of the PRGN Influence Insights Report, it was also an opportunity for the celebration of the 15th anniversary of Newmark Communications’ strategic and impactful dominance of the public relations space in Africa.
The event hosted by Newmark Communications and Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) which took place at Shoregate Hotel, Ikeja GRA, on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, has the theme, “Bridging the Divide With Influence: Strategic Communications in a Polarised World,” the event stressed the need for trust-driven communications.
In presenting the report, the President and Chief Executive Officer, Southard Communication and Representative of the Public Relations Global Network, PRGN, Bill Southard, stated that the report is a pivotal resource for understanding how brands can thrive in Africa’s rapidly evolving communication landscape.
According to the report 76 per cent of senior business leaders identified social media, and 70 per cent cited earned media, as the most effective tools for building and influencing brand reputation across the continent.
Southard said, “Digital platforms and social engagement are no longer optional. They are essential to building lasting influence, yet they must be handled with senior-level care, not left to interns.”
The research work carried out in partnership with ResearchGate, surveyed over 546 senior marketing and business executives across more than 40 countries, capturing insights from Africa, North America, Latin America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.
He said: “The report revealed that 89 percent of global respondents consider brand influence crucial to success, with 67% predicting its importance will increase over the next 3–5 years, and 87 percent confirming their strategies have recently evolved.”
Additionally, he said Trust and reputation emerged as the leading drivers of brand value, with employees seen as the most trusted advocates, while political leaders ranked the lowest globally.
Southard recognized the contributions of Newmark and its dedicated leadership as being instrumental to the success of the research.
In his own address, the Chief Executive Officer of Newmark Group, Mr. Gilbert Manirakiza, urged communicators, brands, and policymakers across Africa to reimagine influence as a tool for trust-building rather than manipulation.
He said “We live in a world more connected than ever before, yet increasingly divided. Strategic communication is no longer a support function, it’s a survival function.”
He emphasized the growing public skepticism toward institutions and the urgent need for communicators to move from “broadcasting to bridge-building,” adapting their messaging to generational and cultural nuances.
Further, he said “Gen Z demands transparency, millennials crave meaning, Gen X values competence, and boomers seek legacy. One-size-fits-all messaging no longer works,” he said.
He added that if African communicators don’t define influence for themselves, “others will do it for us.”
He called for a redefinition of influence as a force for unity and trust, greater accountability from leadership in values and actions, and a new standard for PR rooted in ethics, inclusion, and courage. He stated: “If we don’t tell our stories, someone else will. If we don’t bridge the divides, they’ll grow deeper. And if we don’t lead with purpose, power alone will never be enough.”
In her welcome address, Lovelyn Okafor, Country Lead, Nigeria, Newmark Group Limited, said “We live in an era where division seems louder than dialogue, where mistrust often overshadows truth and where the stories we share or even the ones we choose not to share are shaping the course of communities, institutions and even nations. So that’s why this day matters. At Newmark we believe communication is not just a tool, it’s actually a force.
“A force that when wielded responsibly can open minds, align values and ignite change. For 15 years, that belief has driven us. From our roots in Nairobi and I’d love to say also in Nigeria to our presence in over 30 countries globally, we’ve worked at intersection of strategy, storytelling and societal impact. Helping businesses, governments, change makers navigate complexity with clarity and courage. Today we are not just celebrating how far we’ve come, we are celebrating everyone who’s walked this journey with us. Our clients, our collaborators, media partners and peers in this room and across the region.
“I’ll tell you something about Newmark. Newmark is a global strategic communications and advisory firm that empowers ambitious organizations, strengthen bonds and build impactful change across the world. Over the years we’ve partnered with brands such as Zipline, WDC, African Airlines Associations, QNET and many more.
But what we are most proud of isn’t just the brands, it’s the trust. It’s the trust we’ve built for 15 years and counting. The trust we are constantly working to protect across borders, sectors and generations.
“Today our work is even evolving further. We are embracing new influence not as a trick of persuasion but a science of connection. Understanding how people make meaning, feel trust and choose action is at the heart of all we do at Newmark, she said.
Okafor further stated that the convergence of World PR Day, a global report launch, and Newmark’s 15-year journey is more than symbolic, it is a testament to the growing power of communication in shaping a better future.”
