Foladapo, Adetu, Adeyinka, 35 Others Inducted as Fellows of ARCON

The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has inducted 38 advertising professionals as fellows of the profession. The Director-General of ARCON, Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo was inducted as a fellow alongside other prominent industry leaders such as Seni Adetu, Group CEO, Ogilvy; TunjiAdeyinka, Group Managing Director of the Republicom Group, among others.  

The conferment of honourary fellowship and induction ceremony was held at the Sheraton Hotel, Lagos at the weekend. Fellowship in the advertising profession is the highest status of membership in the profession. It is conferred on practitioners who have been registered as (full) members of the profession and have, in addition, met other criteria as well as impacted significantly the development of the profession.

Speaking at the ceremony which had the crème de la crème in the advertising industry, Fadolapo charged the new fellows to redouble their efforts in contributing to the growth of the industry and also help mentor younger practitioners.

“It is a call to duty; they need to rededicate themselves to the profession, now they are more responsible for leadership and mentorship. The category is not for free for all, it is a resolved category, if you are inducted into a fellowship of any profession, it is a special category and you are expected to take leadership responsibilities,” he said.

The Chairman of the Fellowship Selection Committee and immediate past president of the Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN), Emmanuel Ajufo said the committee carried out the assignment given to it diligently, it received 45 applications, and only 38 were recommended for conferment, adding that fellowship of the profession is the highest status conferred on those who have contributed to the growth of the industry.

“We diligently screened the applications received in line with the terms of reference. We received a total of 45 applications and 38 were recommended for conferment with the prestigious fellowship status. Unfortunately, we had 7 unsuccessful applicants,” he stated.

Other newly inducted fellows are Kehinde Khadijat Kadiri, Olufolahan Adisa Onifade, Okwudili Chris Ndibe, Ime OkonInyang, Olushola Adeniyi Adegborioye, Ohifuerme David Akharume, Chinwike Onwuchekwa, Chinedu Ethel Igboeche, Maureen Aniekan Umanah, Michael Anike Mbanugo, Joe-Eugene Orji Onyenyili-Onuorah, Jude OkechukwuEmecheta, Sule SuleYa’u, Lauratu Umar Abdulsalam, Chidindu Charity Ibiam, Evelyn Irepkitan Nwosu and Philip Adeyemi Adesanya.

Others are Samuel Bamidele Ayetutu, Michael Tunde Kajogbola, Yusuf Mu’azu, Nwanne Joseph Anasiudu, Abayomi Adedoyin Adewumi, Ibrahim Yusuf Yakasai, Adewale Adepitan, Bamijoko Okupe, Lawal Danladi Yaro, Biodun Olasunkanmi Ajiboye, Salihu Abdulhamid Dembos, Hauwa Margaret Nimyel, Okeoghene Solomon Akugha, Akeem Adeoriyomi Oyebo (HRM), Umamah Aniekan John, Usman Faruk Umar, Akinbanjo Joshua Oluwasegun, Agama Emieseifa.

Adeyinka while speaking on behalf of the newly inducted fellows said they will stick to the ethics of the advertising profession and mentor younger practitioners in a bid to grow the industry.

In his words, “I can make bold to say that these fellows will carry the flag of the profession very high in practice, in ethics, and in mentoring the next generation. I can assure you that these fellows will not disappoint, finally, we are grateful for the diligent work of the fellowship committee led by Emmanuel Ajufo and ARCON’s commitment to professional development.

ARCON revealed that “Since the first induction on May 8, 1992, the council has annually registered and inducted applicants who possess degrees in Mass Communications, Marketing, Advertising, and Graphic Arts. Today, the Council has 162 Fellows, 715 full members, and 70001 Associate Members. The number has continued to increase as more practitioners are inducted into the profession.”

Noteworthy, the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) established by Act No. 23 of 2022 succeeds the Advertising Practitioners’ Council of Nigeria (APCON) which was first established by Act No. 55 of 1988. The subsisting Act came into effect to improve the regulatory role of the Council, and to ensure that the business and practice of advertising and marketing communications in Nigeria are adequately protected, constantly improved, and to meet competitive demands of the stakeholders in line with best global practices.