Stakeholders Chart Path for Nigerian Media’s Future as EMCOAN Inducts 48 Members
By Azeez Disu
The Electronic Media Content Owners Association of Nigeria (EMCOAN) has taken a decisive step towards elevating the standards of the nation’s creative industry with the formal induction of 48 new and returning members.
The ceremony, held at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), brought together a formidable assembly of industry stakeholders, government regulators, and media veterans to celebrate a new chapter of unity and professional excellence.
In his welcoming address, the President of EMCOAN, Adeniji Omirin, described the event as a “significant milestone” and a day for the association to “come under one umbrella and speak in one voice”. He noted that the gathering served not only to induct members but also to review the association’s constitution and formally hand over its Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON).
Representing the Director General of ARCON, Dr Olalekan Fadolapo, the Director of Regulation, Mrs Emme Akande, lauded EMCOAN’s commitment to excellence. She issued a passionate appeal to practitioners to prioritise “Nigerian Narratives through local content” and reminded members that all advertisements must receive approval from the Advertising Standards Panel to prevent fraudulent exposure.
Echoing the call for higher standards, Charles Ebuebu, Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), addressed the assembly virtually. He urged members to ensure they “churned out ethical contents” and conducted their practice with the utmost professionalism.
In the same vein, industry veteran Agatha Amata, Founder of Inside Out Media Ltd, further stressed the necessity of regulation, noting that in an age where “everybody is now a content creator,” it is vital to “separate the meat from the shark”. She lamented that many young producers remain unaware of broadcasting ethics, such as the need for viewer discretion advisories, and called for a return to “wholesome content” that reflects Nigerian culture and traditions.
Delivering a thought-provoking keynote address, Yinka Adebayo, Group Executive Director at Omnicom Media Group, challenged content owners to move “beyond good stories to bankable assets”. He argued that in an evolving digital landscape, content must be tailored to the audience and the moment to drive true engagement. “Creativity does not thrive on an empty stomach,” Adebayo remarked, adding that professionals must be “scooled” and “thorough” to ensure their content is bankable in a competitive market.
The Chairman of the EMCOAN Board of Trustees, Dr Opa Williams, highlighted the association’s significant influence, stating that members currently supply at least 80% of the content seen in the Nigerian media space. He emphasised that the induction binds members to a strict “standard of operation” and “discipline,” ensuring the industry moves away from being an “all-comers department”.
A high point of the ceremony was the induction of Mr Wale Adenuga (MFR) as the Grand Patron and Mr Yinka Adebayo as a Patron, acknowledging their years of dedication to the industry. The 48 inductees were presented with certificates, mufflers, copies of the constitution, SOPs, lapel pins, and identification cards, symbolising their formal commitment to the association’s ethical and professional codes.