The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has named Alhaji Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, as chief host of its forthcoming Advertising Industry Colloquium (AIC). Mallam Jibrin Baba Ndace, Director-General of Voice of Nigeria, will serve as Chairman of the event.

According to a statement signed by Prof. Rotimi Olatunji, chairman of the National Planning Committee for the Advertising Industry Colloquium and Journal Committee of ARCON will hold at D’Podium Event Centre, Ikeja.

This year’s edition, the fourth in the series, is themed: “The Future of Advertising, Roles of Platforms, People and Regulations.”

According to Olatunji, the colloquium “brings together key stakeholders from across Nigeria’s advertising and marketing ecosystem, including advertisers, advertising agencies, academia, media organisations, creative professionals, technology platforms, regulators, policymakers, and other relevant stakeholders.”

He described the annual event as a platform for a “Town and Gown Dialogue to advance advertising and marketing communication scholarship and professionalism.”

Olatunji said the event is part of ARCON’s ongoing efforts “to facilitate meaningful conversations on emerging issues shaping the advertising industry and to promote a regulatory environment that supports professionalism, innovation, responsible advertising and sustainable industry growth.”

On the significance of the Minister’s role, Olatunji noted that his participation as host “underscores the strategic importance of the advertising industry to Nigeria’s information and communications ecosystem” and reflects “the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening responsible communication, promoting national development and fostering an enabling environment for the creative and advertising sectors.”

He added that as Chairman, Mallam Jibrin Baba Ndace “is expected to provide strategic leadership and lend his wealth of experience and distinguished standing to the success of the AIC.”

Olatunji said the colloquium is expected to feature keynote presentations, panel discussions and interactive sessions focused on the theme and its implications for the future of advertising and strategic communications in Nigeria, describing it as “an important milestone in the industry’s collective efforts to close the gap between the town and gown.”