Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom on Thursday swore in Charles Udoh as the commissioner for information and strategy of the oil-rich state following the confirmation of the 20 names submitted to the state house of assembly.
Until his appointment as commissioner, Mr. Udoh was the head of brand and marketing communications at Wema Bank Plc.
He has had a varied and extensive experience spanning over two decades within the financial services sector where he had diversified experience in digital and offline brand management, communications and public relations.
Udoh started his career as a trainer and consultant at the Financial Institutions Training Centre (FITC).
He later joined First Bank of Nigeria Plc in 2003 where he drove the bank’s highly successful brand transformation.
In 2006 he moved to Guaranty Trust Bank Plc as group brand manager and head of corporate communications.
From GTBank, he was headhunted by KPMG Professional Services as group head, corporate communications for Diamond Bank Plc in 2008.
At Diamond Bank, he initiated creative communications and media campaigns that energised the Diamond Bank brand as a leading national and truly international bank brand.
As a communications expert with a desire to set up his own professional practice, Udoh established Adam & Agnes Limited, a brand and marketing communications company that is etching credible footprints in Nigeria working for notable brands like Exxonmobil, FCMB, AXA Mansard, LAMATA, AFREN and CNBC AFRICA until he was headhunted again by Wema Bank Plc to lead the new push to transform the bank from a regional bank to a national bank brand.
While building brands during his career, Udoh conceptualised and orchestrated over 100 major local and international advertising, brand, marketing communication and public relations campaigns (digital and offline) that effectively reinforced and built brand perceptions while driving sales.
He is a training faculty member of several reputable institutions including Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), FITC, Nigeria Institute of Training and Development (NITAD), Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Fidelity Bank Plc, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Unity Bank Plc, Dangote Group and the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN).
Udoh is a member of several CIBN committees including the ad-hoc committee on communication (chairman), bankers’ dinner planning committee (member and chairman, publicity sub-committee).
He led the team that drafted the current CIBN Communications Policy.
He also served as vice president of the Association of Corporate Affairs Managers of Banks in Nigeria, and he is a member of Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria.
A graduate of University of Uyo, Udoh attended Diamond Hill Primary School, Calabar, West African Peoples’ Institute, Calabar and the School of Art and Science, Uyo.
As a footballer, he played for NEPA Football Club, Uyo; Mobil Pegasus, Eket and Destiny Insurance, Uyo.
At various times, Udoh was a member of the state football team in the old Cross River State and also Akwa Ibom football team when the state was carved out of Cross River. He also played for his University as a member of the school team.
He is a recipient of the Society of Nigerian Artists Special Achievement Award and National Youth Service Corps commendation.
Udoh is happily married and has children.
