Dentsu Nigeria Wins ARCON Award for Payment Discipline at NEMCEA 2026

Dentsu Nigeria has been honoured with the ARCON Award for Excellence in Payment Discipline at this year’s Nigerian Electronic Media Content Exhibition and Awards (NEMCEA). Notably, the agency is the sole recipient in this category, underscoring its leadership in financial accountability within the advertising industry.

The award, conferred by the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) in collaboration with the Electronic Media Content Owners Association of Nigeria (EMCOAN), celebrates organizations that exemplify transparency, promptness, and integrity in financial dealings across the media and advertising sectors.

MediaFuse-Dentsu and its affiliated entities distinguished themselves through consistent and timely settlement of financial obligations, as determined by a comprehensive industry-wide assessment involving polling and research methodologies. The 2026 NEMCEA focused heavily on professionalism, ethical standards, service excellence, and fiscal responsibility.

Project Director of NEMCEA 2026, Alayande Stephen T, explained the selection process: “The NEMCEA jury made an official appeal to CEOs, members of EMCOAN, and other industry players involved in Media Buying & Planning to vote for the media agency exemplifying the best prompt payment culture and structure. And after a keenly contested voting exercise, MEDIAFUSE-DENTSU emerged as the Media Agency with the best culture and structure of prompt payment.”

He further outlined the four key criteria used in judging this award:. They are

Automated & Transparent Workflows; Prompt Settlement; Low Default/Overdue Rate; and Contractual Compliance.

“1. Automated & Transparent Workflows: We considered Agency who is sot in the usage of Utilizing digital financial systems or agency management software to track invoices, approvals, and remittance notifications seamlessly. This is without necessarily knowing anyone in the Accounting Department of the Media Agency, payment are done promptly and without delay.

“2. Prompt Settlement: Consistently meeting or trying to beat the agreed stipulated ARCON payment schedules (e.g., 45 or 90-day credit windows) across all media partners, broadcast, print, digital, and outdoor. There’s definitely room for improvement on this for Mediafuse Dentus, nevertheless, your agency tarried above others.

“(3) Low Default/Overdue Rate: Maintaining a clean track record with minimal to zero aging debt or unresolved default payments over the evaluation period.  On this, we believe Mediafuse is doing well and can only do better.

“(4) Contractual Compliance: Strictly adhering to the agreed credit terms and billing schedules outlined in vendor master service agreements (MSAs). Compliance over the years has been a major issue in our business circle but we can’t do without one compliance related issue or the other but how fairly and promptly are these issues resolved. We believe there is still room for improvement.”

The ARCON Award for Excellence in Payment Discipline was presented during NEMCEA 2026, held in Lagos from September 2-3, 2026. Organised by EMCOAN, the annual event brings together stakeholders across television, radio, digital, and electronic media to recognise excellence and contributions to the industry.

The Group Financial Controller, Enahoro Osemoboh, received the award on behalf of Dentsu Nigeria.

At Dentsu Nigeria, Enahoro said payment discipline forms part of a broader financial governance framework spanning client invoicing, credit management, reconciliation, and vendor settlements. “Approximately 90 per cent of invoices are paid within agreed timelines, while vendor payments are completed within three working days of receiving client credits. We have witnessed significant improvements in payment performance and operational efficiency over recent years,” he said.

He added that the practice extends across Dentsu Nigeria’s partner network, including media owners, production companies, influencers, content creators, OOH vendors, digital platforms, event suppliers, and other service providers.

The agency attributes its performance to strengthened financial controls, robust internal processes, and periodic reviews designed to reinforce accountability and execution.

Commenting on the recognition, Emeka Chris Okeke, Group Executive Chairman and CEO, Dentsu Nigeria, said: “This recognition reflects the trust our partners place in us and the systems and people that support how we do business. At dentsu Nigeria, payment discipline is not simply about settling invoices; it is about building confidence, strengthening partnerships, and contributing to the long-term sustainability of our industry.”

Okeke described the award as both an achievement and a responsibility, noting that it reinforces the agency’s commitment to delivering quality service while upholding the highest standards of integrity, credibility, and operational excellence.

The recognition also highlights the progress Dentsu Nigeria has made in strengthening stakeholder confidence through improved payment processes. Industry partners have increasingly acknowledged the agency’s responsiveness and consistency in meeting its financial obligations.

Beyond the award, Dentsu Nigeria views responsible payment practices as critical to the health of Nigeria’s creative economy. Timely settlement supports cash flow across the value chain, enabling media businesses, production companies, creators, and SMEs to sustain operations, invest in growth, and continue creating value for brands and consumers.

The award aligns with ongoing industry efforts to promote stronger financial responsibility and more sustainable commercial relationships. Through recent reforms, ARCON has continued to emphasise the role of timely payments in media sustainability and industry stability, while NEMCEA remains a key platform for advancing collaboration and standards across Nigeria’s electronic media content ecosystem.

For Dentsu Nigeria, the recognition reinforces a simple principle: trust is earned through consistent action. As an integrated growth partner to clients, media owners, creators, suppliers, and other stakeholders, the agency sees payment discipline as a tangible expression of its commitment to responsible business practices.

The recognition comes amid heightened industry focus on payment discipline and the sustainability of Nigeria’s advertising-media value chain. In April 2026, the Federal Government directed ARCON to enforce a 45-day payment thresh