ARCON Inducts 44 New Fellows, Mull’s Plan To Review Criteria For Subsequent Appointments

The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has inducted 44 new Fellows into the advertising profession at a ceremony held recently at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

Speaking at the event, Director-General, Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, hinted that plans are in top gear to extensively review the criteria for fellowship appointment, noting that the evolution of the advertising ecosystem, driven by technology and changing market dynamics, demands continuous learning and adaptation.

Charging the new Fellows to embrace their role as gatekeepers of the advertising industry, Fadolapo called on them to focus on mentorship and other steps to grow compliance and ethical practices.

His words, ”Being a fellow is  a privilege.  We must all contribute and be prepared to do more. Fellowship is not just a title but a call to higher responsibility. As fellows, you must be ambassadors of the profession and ensure that the next generation of advertising professionals benefits from your experience and mentorship”.

Fadolapo also noted that the Fellowship Selection Committee worked diligently for over three months to arrive at the final list of inductees, assuring that the council would implement the recommendations of the committee for the programme to reflect current realities.
He equally emphasised that practising advertising in Nigeria without registration with ARCON remains a criminal offence, reiterating that the council would continue to regulate and improve the practice to align with global standards.

Also speaking at the event, Doyen of Advertising in Nigeria, and the Chairman of Troyka Group, Dr Biodun Shobanjo, called on stakeholders in the industry to put heads together on ways to enhance the value and relevance of the fellowship title. Stressing further, Shobanjo pointed out that in other fields, the position of a fellow has clear benefits, so Nigeria’s Advertising sector should not be different.

In his comment, Steve Babaeko, CEO, X3M Ideas and Vice President/Area Director of the International Advertising Association (IAA), Africa, described the fellowship status as the highest professional recognition in the advertising industry, akin to the revered Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) status of the legal profession. He subsequently congratulated the newly inducted fellows and urged all newly inducted fellows to uphold the integrity of the profession and serve with passion that can inspire younger practitioners.

Also speaking at the event, the President of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria, Lanre Adisa, congratulated the new fellows, saying the recognition reflected their significant contributions to the growth and credibility of the Nigerian advertising industry.
Adisa urged the inductees to continue promoting creativity, professionalism, and ethical standards in their respective fields, noting that the current era presents both challenges and opportunities for the industry.

The Chairman of the selection committee, Emmanuel Ajufo, said the selection followed a rigorous procedure in picking the 44 new fellows from the 48 that applied. He equally stated that his committee made suggestions on ways to elevate the followship programme.
Speaking also at the event, Prof. Rotimi Olatunji, Professor of Advertising and Public Relations, Lagos State University, and Chairman of The Advertising Industry Colloquium, called on the council to consider a quota for people in academia in subsequent fellowship selection programmes, just as it is done in the legal profession.

Among the newly inducted fellows are Emme Akande of the Advertising Standards Panel (ASP), Brenda Nwagwu, CEO of QVT Media, Adeola Odesanya, CEO of Benevolence Treasure Ltd, Tolu Medebem, President of Experiemtial Marketers Association of Nigeria (EXMAN), Stephen Onaivi, MD mediareachOMD, Kunle Ogunmefun, Founder of Bluebird Communications, among many others. The event also attracted top advertising executives, members of the fellowship selection committee, and representatives from various industry associations.