Ten years after it last inducted qualified practitioners to the class of Fellows, the Advertising
Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) have recently admitted 63 distinguished practitioners
to the coveted Fellowship cadre of the advertising profession.
The new fellows drawn from the various sectorial groups making up the advertising industry
were formerly inducted during a highly colourful ceremony that held at the Radisson Blu Hotels,
Ikeja, Lagos. The event was graced by a large audience of integrated Marketing Communications
(IMC) industry practitioners who converged in large numbers, inclusive of top veterans of the
industry, former Chairmen and est while Registrars of APCON.
Administering the professional oath to formally admit the new Fellows, APCON Registrar, Dr
Olalekan Fadolapo congratulated the distinguished Fellows, urging them to be above board in
their professional conduct and to diligently represent the advertising profession in all progressive
ramifications and to promote resourcefully the best interest of the profession.
Fadolapo stated that, the Council was to committed to providing conducive business and
professional grounds with a view to ensure that the practice and business of advertising in
Nigeria is conducted in an ethical manner without compromising best practices.
He said in the bid to compliments efforts in that regard, the Council had earlier introduced some
reforms to compliment prevailing regulations and proclamations as well as other subsidiary
instruments established and adopted as legal frameworks for the industry.
The Council boss disclosed that the Council would be introducing a new vetting regime across
board with effect from April 1, 2022, to the effect that only licensed advertising organizations
would be permitted to apply to the Advertising Standards Panel (ASP) for vetting, adding that
the move is to further reduce unlawful and unethical practices and more so to encourage the
business of APCON- licensed organizations.
Also speaking on the occasion, Veteran practitioner and Chairman, STB MacCaan, Sir Steve
Bamidele Omojafor commended APCON on the AISOP industry regulatory initiative, pointing
out that Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN) constitutes a critical element for the
successful implementation of the AISOP framework.
He further urged to new inductees to remain steadfast and faithful to their obligations and to the
oath of advertising practice which they had repeatedly affirmed to as fellows, adding that
compliance to the laws and other regulations guiding advertising and marketing communications
in Nigeria must be adhered to and be seen as asset in their undertakings.
“Let me mention that you are also obligated to give yourselves and the industry the best
improvement and capacity building worthy of fellows of the profession” he stated, adding,
kindly continue to render every necessary support to APCON, especially in training and
professional development of the younger practitioners who aspire to improve their career and
advance themselves in this valued field.
Meanwhile, a sector by sector breakdown of list of the new inducted fellows shows Creative
Advertising sector as having the lead with27 new fellows, followed by the Out-of-Home sector
with 20 new fellows, the Media Independents sector has 12 new fellows while the Broadcast and
Experiential marketing sector has single fellowship slots respectively.