Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria, APCON, Alhaji Garba Bello Kankarofi has bowed out of service after a meritorious service that spanned more than 10 years to advertising business and regulation in Nigeria.
The former regulator of APCON whose tenure ended last week Tuesday as stipulated by law confirmed his retirement in a test message to Brandcom.ng.
As at the time of this report, the Federal Government has not appointed any replacement for the position.
Kankarofi began his career in media and advertising in 1974 when he joined the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation. Later, in 1977, he gained admission into Bayero University, Kano to study Mass Communication and later graduated in 1980 with a Bachelors Degree.
In 1982, he became a Commercial Officer in the Kano State Broadcasting Corporation. He rose to become a Principal Commercial Officer (Radio/TV) in 1984 and in 1986; he ascended to the position of Controller of Commercial Services.
In 1987, he became the Commercial Services Manager and in 1991 he was confirmed the Director of Marketing and Commercial Services (Radio/TV). He moved on and in 1993 he was upgraded to the position of Director of Commercial Services.
Also, in 1993, Adworld, a leading advertising journal, adjudged him the Best Commercial Director in Nigeria. He reached the pinnacle of his profession in September 2003 when he became the Managing Director of Radio Kano during the administration of former Governor Dr. Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau.
The Advertising industry in appreciation of his contributions in 2004 bestowed on him the highest honour of Fellowship of the Advertising Practitioner Council of Nigeria (APCON).
In 2005, he was elected the Best Advertising Practitioner in the Electronic Media category in a contest organized by the Body of Fellows of Advertising.
In 2006, he was appointed the Registrar/ Chief Executive of the foremost regulatory body, the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON).
APCON was established by the Advertising Practitioners Act No. 55 of 1988, as amended by Act No. 93 of 1992 and Act No. 116 of 1993 (now Advertising Practitioners Registration Act Cap A7 of 2004).