APCON
The Nation
June 27, 2021
The Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) has inducted 73 new members into the professional advertising practice while conducting the graduation ceremony for 172 students from its professional diploma in advertising programme.

The ceremony which held at the Radisson Blu hotel, Ikeja, Lagos recently was graced by the presence of distinguished personalities, and industry players in the sectors.

In his special remarks, APCON Registrar, Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo while addressing the graduands encouraged them to work assiduously to improve themselves and support the efforts of the approved governing council consciously, and in full knowledge that as a stakeholder, their contributions and support are valuable to the growth of the profession.

His words: “I heartily congratulate the graduates and candidates for induction, as well as the associate registered practitioners who will be upgraded to full membership having satisfactorily fulfilled the requirements in accordance with the provisions of the Advertising Practitioners (Registration Etc.) Act, CAP A7, Laws of Federation of Nigerian 2004.”

He further stated: “It is also important to note that APCON recognizes the importance of continuous training and constant engagement with young professionals in our industry. We encourage you to consider our training programmes a priority for your personal development and to participate in them regularly.”

The guest speaker, Mr. Jimmy Awosika commenting on the induction ceremony explained that periodic admission of professional practitioners is the mechanism on which the sustainability or decline of institutions hinge, “much like birth to families keep the human race going”.

APCON maintains a strong focus on its vision of promoting responsible and ethical advertising practice, acts as the conscience of society in matters of commercial communications and as a watchdog for consumers. It also manages the needs and interests of stakeholders in Nigeria’s advertising industry.

Extracted from The Nation Newspaper on 27, June, 2021 https://thenationonlineng.net/apcon-inducts-newly-registered-practitioners-graduates-172/

Among the Members inducted as Associate Member of Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) is Abdulazeez Idiaro. He was also Awarded Professional Diploma in Advertising.

Brief About ARCON (Formerly APCON)

The Advertising Regulatory Council Of Nigeria (ARCON), formerly, Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) was established by the Advertising Practitioners Registration Act No. 55 of 1988, as amended by Act No. 93 of 1992 and Act No. 116 of 1993 (now Advertising Practitioners Registration Act Cap A7 of 2004).

The adoption of a broad national mass communication policy by the National Council of Ministers in January 1988 was a milestone in the establishment of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON). The various discussions that followed the adoption of the national mass communication policy articulated the relevance and the leadership role of advertising to the nation’s social, political and economic development as well as the need for official recognition and regulation of the practice.

The Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) was subsequently established by the Act number 55 of 1988 as a logical outcome of these discussions. The Act accorded deserved state legislative recognition of advertising as a profession in Nigeria and vested APCON with powers to regulate and control the practice of advertising in Nigeria, in all its aspects and ramifications.

APCON maintains a strong focus on its vision of promoting responsible and ethical advertising practice, acts as the conscience of society in matters of commercial communications and as a watchdog for consumers. It also manages the needs and interests of stakeholders in Nigeria’s advertising industry.

APCON cooperates with these Sectorial associations in regulating the conduct of their member organizations to ensure a socially responsible practice. By insisting on pre-exposure clearance of all advertisements, APCON strives to check all forms of abuses such as misleading statements, spurious testimonials, visual and verbal exaggerations, misleading offers, suggestion or pictures offensive to public decency, etc.

ARCON Membership
This Act repeals the Advertising Practitioners ( etc Act, Cap A 7 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and enacts the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria Act, 2022 to establish a Council for advertising, advertisements and marketing communications as the apex regulatory authority for the Nigerian advertising industry, make provision for the regulation and control of advertising, ensure the protection of the general public and consumers, promote local content and entrench the best
international practices

Privileges of Registered Persons and Offences by Unregistered Persons
S 31 1 A person not being registered in accordance with this Act, shall not be entitled to hold any appointment in the public service of the Federation or of a State or in any public or private establishment, body, or institution if the holding of a such appointment involves the performance by him in Nigeria of any act pertaining to the profession for gain

S 32 1 An individual or organization, not being registered in any register established under this Act who has failed, refused or neglected to comply with the conditions and requirements for advertising, advertisement, and marketing communications as stipulated under this Act, or who uses any name, title, description or symbol calculated to lead any person to infer that he is engaged in advertising, advertisement or marketing communications commits an offence and is liable on conviction.
Source: APCON