It was a solemn yet grand affair last Friday, as the advertising and communications industry converged on Lagos to honour the late Pa Abolaji Ezekiel Oyetunji Fadolapo, father of the Director-General of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo.
While the burial service had taken place two days earlier in Kwara State, the main obsequies which is a thanksgiving and burial outing service, followed by a grand reception were held in Lagos, drawing the crème de la crème of the advertising industry, top government functionaries, and key stakeholders in a show of solidarity that shows the deep respect for the ARCON chief.
Pa Abolaji, who passed away peacefully in his sleep on Sunday, 29th March 2026 at the age of 82, was remembered as a diligent and strict hard-working man who believed in discipline without rudeness. The ARCON DG, Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, in his tribute during the reception, painted a picture of a father who taught that one could express oneself firmly without causing harm to others. He noted that his father’s legacy would continue to inspire future generations.
Earlier in the day, a thanksgiving and burial outing service was held at the St. James African Church along Agege Motor Road. The officiating clergy extolled Pa Fadolapo as a man of unwavering faith and integrity who raised a son dedicated to public service.
In attendance was the representative of the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, all Directors-Generals of agencies under the Federal Ministry of Information were also present, including the heads of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), the Nigerian Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and the Nigerian Press Council (NPC). Their presence reinforced government’s recognition of Dr. Fadolapo’s leadership in regulating the nation’s advertising landscape.
Among the prominent attendees were the President of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN), the Chairman of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) transition committee, past and present board members of ARCON, and chief executives of leading advertising agencies such as SO&U, X3M Ideas, and Insight Publicis. Also present were key stakeholders from the media, including publishers, broadcasters, and digital marketing executives. The atmosphere was one of both mourning and celebration of a life well lived.
The Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission, Mr. Charles Ebuebu, described the late Pa Abolaji as an icon and trailblazer who had a passion for mentoring others. He noted that the deceased left behind echoes of wisdom and a legacy woven deeply into the lives he touched, praying that those legacies would continue to inspire those left behind.
Professor Emmanuel Ajike, the Deputy Provost of the College of Postgraduate Studies at Babcock University, called Pa Abolaji a great man whose legacy was clearly reflected in the lives of his children. He observed that knowing Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, his friend, one could see the imprint of a good home and a real, good man.
The last daughter of the deceased, Mrs. Folake Alaboto, recalled that her father was known for his steadfast words of encouragement and deep love for all his children. She credited him as the brain behind her success in life, both academically and otherwise, describing him as a good man and the pillar of the family. She remembered him as someone who would encourage and respect his children for what they did, but would not hesitate to discipline when necessary. He made every child feel cherished, settled any disputes that arose in the family, and always brought the family together in unity and peace.