Information Minister Showers Encomiums on ARCON DG, Charges Industry to Combat Misinformation, Project Nigeria’s True Image
The Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, fnipr, has lavished praise on the Director-General of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, describing him as a leader with exceptional work ethic and tenacity rarely seen in professionals of his generation.
Speaking as the Chief Host at the official opening ceremony of the 5th National Advertising Conference (NAC) 2025 today at the Abuja Continental Hotel, Abuja, mallam Idris commended Dr. Fadolapo’s dynamic leadership and vision in institutionalizing the conference as an annual flagship event for Nigeria’s marketing communications industry.
“Let me first commend the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) under the dynamic leadership of Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo and other industry stakeholders for instituting this important conference as an annual event and sustaining it as a premier gathering of leaders in marketing, advertising, and communication in our country,” the Minister stated.
Emphasizing the critical role of marketing communication professionals in nation-building, particularly in countering false narratives about Nigeria on the global stage, the minister addressed what he described as “one of the gravest” challenges facing the nation, which is the deliberate spread of misinformation, particularly the false narrative of Nigeria as a “violator of religious freedom.”
“Let me state clearly and emphatically that this narrative is false. It is a distortion of our reality as a nation of diverse peoples and faiths, who have lived together peacefully for generations,” the Minister declared. “Yes, Nigeria has faced security challenges, especially from terrorists and violent extremists, but these are not targeted at any religion or ethnic group. All Nigerians—Christians, Muslims, and people of other faiths have suffered from the menace of terrorism and banditry.”
He assured that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration remains fully committed to ending the security challenges, noting significant recent gains in the war against terror. “Only yesterday, the Chief of Army Staff briefed the media after he met with the President, providing encouraging updates on the significant gains recorded in just the past few days,” he revealed.
The Minister challenged marketing communication professionals to take ownership of Nigeria’s narrative, emphasizing their unique position as not just brand storytellers but as “custodians of national perception and image.”
“When false narratives about Nigeria are spread especially internationally, it is your creativity, strategy, and storytelling that can counterbalance them with truth, context, and compelling narratives of hope and progress,” he stated.
Minister Idris called for “a communication renaissance, one that emphasizes facts over fear, unity over division, and truth over propaganda.” He urged industry professionals to project Nigeria as it truly is: “a diverse, dynamic, and resilient nation of hardworking people who coexist peacefully, aspire collectively, and strive daily to build a better society.”
The Minister outlined how integrated campaigns, digital storytelling, strategic partnerships, and value-based branding could reshape Nigeria’s global perception “as a land of opportunity, innovation, and creativity, not of conflict or crisis.”
Government’s Commitment to Industry Growth
The Minister assured the advertising and marketing communications sector of continued government support, pledging that the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation would partner with ARCON and all industry stakeholders to ensure the ecosystem thrives in a “regulated but enabling environment.”
“We are retooling our public information machinery to align with the realities of the digital age—where truth must travel faster than falsehood, and where the Nigerian story must be told by Nigerians themselves,” he said.
He referenced the National Values Charter Framework being implemented by his ministry, which aims at “restoring the values of truth, integrity, patriotism, and national pride”—values he insisted must underpin all marketing and communication practices in Nigeria.
This year’s conference, themed “Marketing Communication: Transforming Business and Creating Growth in Challenging Times,” was described by the Minister as “both timely and strategic.”
“We live in an era where businesses must innovate not only to survive but to thrive amid economic headwinds, technological disruption, and shifting consumer behavior,” Minister Idris noted. “Marketing communication is at the centre of this transformation. It remains the bridge between creativity and commerce, between ideas and impact, and between perception and reality.”
In his closing remarks, mallam Idris emphasized that “in these challenging times, communication remains our strongest instrument for business, for governance, and for nation-building.”
“Let us therefore use it wisely, creatively, and responsibly,” he urged the gathering.
The ongoing conference concludes on Friday, November 14, with an industry dinner and after-party, providing additional networking opportunities for participants.
The National Advertising Conference has grown over its five editions to become Nigeria’s flagship gathering for marketing communications professionals, serving as an invaluable platform for thought leadership, advocacy, networking, and industry exhibitions.