ARCON National Conference: New Enactment Beyond Name Change, Extra Duties, Mandates Part Of The New Bouquet – Fadolapo
The Director General of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has revealed that the recent repeal of the Advertising Practitioners Act which established the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) and the enactment of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) Act No. 23 of 2022 is not just a name change but an improvement on the duties, mandates, and responsibility of the regulatory agency.
He made this revelation at the ongoing 2022 National Advertising Conference at the Transcorp hotel venue while delivering his welcome address.
Dr. Fadolapo in his address maintained that this year’s edition of the conference is happening at a time the nation’s regulatory framework is going through some fundamental changes aimed at improving the practice and business of advertising in Nigeria.
He noted, “this year’s theme is timely and could not have come at a better time. As we are all aware, our industry is threatened. There is a growing feeling within and outside the industry that the business and practice of advertising are on the decline.
“In order to arrest the apparent decline in performance standards as well as to restore confidence and respect, ARCON, in collaboration with all stakeholders, has taken up the responsibility for interrogating the body of knowledge called advertising as well as improving the business framework and standards. This conference, therefore, provides an opportunity to discuss the current and future needs and challenges of the advertising industry,” he said.
Promising that the conference will be educative and insightful, the Director-General extended his appreciation to the President, HE Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, the National Assembly, particularly the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Information and National Orientation, Sen, Danladi Sankara, and Chairman, House Committee on Information, National Orientation Ethics and Values, Hon. Olusegun Odebunmi, not forgetting the Honourable Minister, Alh. Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, and other senior government officials for all their support.
The conference has in attendance the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello represented by Dr. Babagana Adams, Director, Outdoor and Signage, FCT; Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Director General of the Broadcasting, President of the Advertising Agencies Association of Nigeria (AAAN), Mr. Steve Babaeko; Advertisers Association of Nigeria (AAAN), ADVAN President, Osamede Uwuban mwen; Experiential Marketers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Tunji Adeyinka among other stakeholders of the marketing communications industry in Nigeria.
The National Advertising conference was first held in 2019. It was however suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 before its eventual return under the new regulatory dispensation of ARCON and the first under the first Director-General of the regulatory Agency.