Debbie Larry-Izamoje leads Brila Media Group Nigeria As CEO

Debbie Larry-Izamoje ‘Fninm’ has assumed office as the Chief Executive Officer of Brila Media Group Nigeria, a pioneer and leader in Africa’s sports media industry.
With a visionary approach, Debbie has transformed Brila FM into Brila Media, a full-scale multimedia group with interests in broadcasting, digital services, printing, and consultancy, significantly expanding its digital footprint and building a vibrantly engaged community. Under her leadership, Brila Media has become a dominant force in “sportainment” across Africa.

The appointment comes as a testament to her massive contributions to the sports media landscape in Nigeria, having previously been recognized for her impactful leadership and contributions to the field on multiple occasions.

Her commitment to women’s advocacy at the community level has been highly evident in her continuous efforts to advance women’s sports, and her bid to maintain gender equality and diversity. Her social impact initiative, Football for Girls Africa (FGA), is committed to empowering young girls through football. FGA has partnered with several brands and gained recognition from the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) for its efforts in promoting inclusivity and opportunities for girls in football.

Debbie noted that in her capacity as the Chief Operations Officer at Brila Media, she has always strived to create a culture that values and celebrates all genders and ages, citing this as a key to optimal productivity in any workplace.

“One highlight has been creating gender inclusivity and generational balance within Brila Media. When I joined, we had only three women, mostly from older generations. Today, we have nearly 20 women, complemented by the fresh perspectives of Gen Zs and the experience of older staff. This blend has been transformative for our organizational culture and output,” she said.

She has been an instrumental figure in different management committees of the Nigeria Women’s Football League. Her strategic input was crucial to the successful rebranding of the NWFL in 2020, and she played a similar role in the management team of the Aisha Buhari Invitational tournament in 2021. Currently, she is part of the task force for the NWFL in nation-building and empowering women through football.

Debbie revealed that her childhood experiences gave her early access to inner workings of the sports media industry, and laid the foundation she needed to go on and make impact in the field: “I was raised by parents who were both in the communications business, and my childhood was filled with moments of watching football with my dad, accompanying him, and meeting people in the industry,”

“While I consider myself firmly in the business of communications and sports, the passion originated from witnessing my parents’ dedication and success in their work. That foundation inspired me to carve out a career path in the sports business,” she added.

She believes that there is a lot of work still to be done in the fight against gender disparities, noting that women were still being limited from certain opportunities based on their gender: “As a woman, I’ve often faced skepticism about my abilities, with some people assuming I wouldn’t be capable simply because of my gender,”

“I’ve chosen to use these challenges as opportunities. They’ve fueled my advocacy for equality and inspired me to lead by example, proving that women can not only succeed but also thrive in leadership roles in male-dominated industries” she added.