The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has unveiled a lineup of prominent business leaders, marketers, and industry experts set to speak at the sixth edition of the National Advertising Conference (NAC), scheduled for November 11–13, 2026, at the Abuja Continental Hotel.
The speakers and key topics for the conference were announced at a press briefing held at the Léola Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, ahead of the three-day conference scheduled for November 11–13, 2026, at the Abuja Continental Hotel. The conference is themed “Repositioning the Marketing Communications Industry for the Next Frontier.”
Chairman of the NAC 2026 Planning Committee, Tunji Adeyinka, said this year’s conference would be bigger and deeper, stressing that NAC has evolved beyond an industry talk shop into an advocacy platform capable of driving tangible change.
The conference will open with a fireside chat featuring Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Chairman of Access Holdings Plc.
Adeyinka said Aig-Imoukhuede was selected because of his experience in navigating disruption and transforming Nigeria’s financial services sector.
The conference will subsequently examine several issues shaping the industry’s future, including artificial intelligence, digital marketing regulation, changing consumer behaviour, data management, talent attraction, culture, business models and regulation.
The economic outlook will also receive attention, with Ugochukwu “Ugodre” Obi-Chukwu, CEO of Nairametrics, and Olu Akanmu, CEO, Board Advisor and Executive-in-Residence at Lagos Business School, among those expected to participate in a panel on the Nigerian economy and its impact on the industry.
The CMO Forum will feature Manpreet Singh, Group CMO of Tolaram Group; Idemudia Dima-Okojie, Head of Marketing, Mastercard West Africa; and Chioma Mbanugo, Chief Marketing Officer, PZ Wilmar.
Another key session will focus on media measurement and the rollout of the People Meter for television advertising. Patrick Gomes, Chief Operating Officer of MEIL (First Media and Entertainment Integrated Limited), will discuss early trends and insights emerging from the system.
The Chairman also said that the conference will feature a conversation with the Minister of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, on strengthening the relationship between marketing communications and Nigeria’s creative economy.
He also revealed that a dedicated workshop by the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) will address data protection and compliance, particularly as consumer data becomes increasingly important to advertising and marketing.
Other sessions will examine language distortion and cultural bastardisation in advertising targeted at Northern Nigerian audiences, highlighting the need for more culturally relevant communication across the country.
He Adeyinka also stated that a special panel titled “The Future is Female” will bring together three female industry leaders: Mrs. Brenda Nwagwu, President of MIPAN; Mrs. Tolulope Medebem, President of EXMAN; and Dr. Bolajoko Bayo-Ajayi, President of NIMN.
Meanwhile, industry veterans Mr. Lolu Akinwumi and Mr. ID Enang will lead a session titled “Some Things Will Never Change,” examining the enduring fundamentals of advertising despite technological and market disruptions.
Representing ARCON Director-General, Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, Dr. Eme Akande welcomed members of the press and urged the media to support efforts to expand the reach and impact of the conference.
Dr. Akande said the conference has grown steadily over the years, noting that about 500 participants attended last year’s edition, while organisers are targeting 700 or more participants this year.
“Every year this conference gets better, every year. And this year, by the grace of God, it will not only be better, but it will also be greater than the previous years,” she said.
She explained that the theme reflects the need to reposition the marketing communications industry in response to rapid changes in technology, consumer behaviour and business.
In their goodwill messages, sectoral leaders commended NAC for providing a platform for meaningful industry conversations and advocacy.
Mr. Lanre Adisa, speaking at the press briefing, the Chairman of HASG and President of AAAN, described the sixth edition as evidence of the conference’s growing importance to the industry. He challenged stakeholders to consider what the industry would miss if NAC did not exist, noting that several industry initiatives have emerged from conversations at previous editions.
Adisa also called for a renewed assessment of the industry’s contribution to the Nigerian economy, arguing that credible data on the sector’s economic value would strengthen its advocacy for greater relevance and recognition.
He supported the position that NAC should remain focused on finding solutions rather than becoming another talk shop, particularly on emerging issues such as digital advertising and artificial intelligence.
Similarly, EXMAN President, Mrs. Tolulope Medebem, stressed the importance of collective action in addressing the industry’s challenges. She said stakeholders must work with the organising committee and ARCON to develop practical solutions to issues affecting the sector.
MIPAN President, Mrs. Brenda Nwagwu, also highlighted the growing importance of digital advertising and artificial intelligence, stressing the need for a clear industry policy on AI.
She noted that AI is a reality that cannot be avoided, with countries around the world developing approaches to managing its impact. For Nigeria’s marketing communications industry, she said, the priority should be developing appropriate frameworks that allow practitioners to harness the technology responsibly.
The organisers said the three-day conference will feature a fireside chat, plenary thought-leadership sessions, breakout sessions and a networking dinner.