Nigerian Marketer Ditches MBA for Global Career in Malta

Kennedy Adetayo was supposed to build a career around agricultural products, but his MBA case studies about tech giants planted a different seed entirely.

After earning his MBA in Agricultural Business Operations in Nigeria, Adetayo took his first job managing brand compliance and printed banners. He quickly realized he had a talent for spotting mistakes in copy and loved the craft of writing.

When a copywriting role opened at Aqua Agency in 2016, Adetayo didn't just apply. He walked into the interview and created a full campaign on the spot, from start to finish.

They hired him immediately. Within four months, he moved into strategy work, handling briefs for major clients like MTN.

His bold interview style became his signature move. When a Dubai-based consulting firm expanded to Nigeria in 2018, Adetayo submitted a 90-day expansion plan as part of his application. They asked him to execute it himself.

By 2020, Adetayo joined TigerWit, a UK fintech company expanding into Africa. His job was to establish their presence across the continent while keeping marketing aligned with teams in London and Dubai.

Four months later, he was promoted to Head of Marketing for Africa. TigerWit's numbers skyrocketed after entering Nigeria's 200-million-person market.

His success caught the attention of Exness, a global fintech broker, who asked if he could handle marketing for 30 African countries. "I wouldn't know till I try," Adetayo told them.

The role meant constant travel across West, East, and Southern Africa. Visa rejections became his biggest obstacle, especially for South Africa, where Exness was opening a new office. The visa issues were significant enough that Exness created a dedicated team to handle travel documentation for employees like him.

Why This Inspires

Adetayo's story shows how betting on yourself can transform your career trajectory. He turned down the safe path his degree offered and instead pursued work that excited him, even when it meant creating entire campaigns during job interviews or managing markets across an entire continent.

Along the way, he taught himself data analysis through online courses, strengthening his marketing expertise with technical skills. His contract work analyzing user data for Nigerian markets eventually connected him to companies based in Malta.

Today, Adetayo works remotely from Malta, watching Mediterranean sunsets while building campaigns that reach millions across Africa. His journey from managing printed banners in Lagos to coordinating global marketing strategy proves that the boldest career moves often start with a simple decision to try something different.

The agribusiness graduate who wanted "something different" found it.