Michael O.

I am a seasoned communications, public relations and public policy/public affairs specialist. Until recently, I was Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Guinness Nigeria Plc (a Diageo Company). I had also held various roles in the company such as Head of Public Policy, Community Relations Manager (Sustainability), Corporate Communications Manager and Media Relations Manager. Prior to joining Guinness Nigeria, I was Public Relations Manager at May & Baker Nigeria Plc where I pioneered the Public Relations Department and set a very high standard of professional practice. I practised journalism before moving to May & Baker. I am an expert at stakeholder management and engagement and successfully managed relationships between Guinness Nigeria and its critical stakeholders such as Nigeria Customs Service, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, the CPC, NAFDAC, as well as government ministries and host communities. Under my watch the company successfully carried out numerous advocacy missions to governments at all levels on issues affecting the company’s operations. I was a beneficiary of many training programmes at home and abroad. I led the Guinness Nigeria’s team that won Diageo Africa Corporate Relations Africa Excellence Award for Best Financial and Strategic Business Contribution by a Public Policy Team in 2013. I was also a winner of the prestigious People’s Manager Award of Guinness Nigeria. I am currently the Director of Administration at Imo Signage and Advertisement Agency, a move I made from J3 Consulting Limited, a public relations and advertising firm that I founded in 2016. I hold B.A (Mass Communication) and [login to view URL] (Public Relations & Advertising) certificates from top Nigerian universities. I am a member of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) and the Lagos Country Club. I am also a regular public affairs commentator for several media outlets in Nigeria.