APCON Bans Unwholesome Advertisements in Media, Billboards
The Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) has place a ban on exposure of unwholesome and unapproved advertisements in the media and on bill-boards in Nigeria.
Assistant Director Operations and Special Duties APCON, Mr. Joe-
Onuorah stated that the ban was necessitated by the rising incidences of indiscriminate exposure of advertisements, emphasizing that some of the advertisements contain misleading and unwholesome messages.
According to him, the exposure of such advertisements have caused APCON serious concerns, adding that the unprofessional practices have been traced to persons and organizations that were not licensed to practice advertising in Nigeria.
Onuorah said:”In the course of the exercise, advertisements exposed on outdoor structures without satisfying the requirements for advertisements to be submitted for vetting and approval by the Advertising Standards Panel (ASP) will be blanked out”
”A large percentage of the advertisements targeted in the exercise are first party advertisements usually produced and displayed by business owners without the use of advertising professionals. The advertisements typically employ graphic designs, images and messaging which attract, persuade or invite patronage for the businesses advertised. Some of them make claims requiring substantiation”, he added.
He, however, stressed that the exercises will not affect regular business signages, which are typically identification or informational signs without persuasive illustrations and claims.
According to him, the enforcement exercise is one of the measures to stem incidences of misleading, deceitful, offensive and other forms of spurious messages and protect members of the public from the harmful effects of such unwholesome and unprofessional advertisements.
“The exercise complements the council’s routine monitoring and enforcement activities undertaken by its various zonal and liaison offices across the country. APCON is committed to ensuring responsible advertising – the use of advertising communication to positively impact the economy and the society, rather than to take undue advantage of consumers, disparage competitors or offend the sensibilities of members of the public” he explained.
RECOMMENDED ARTICLES
Comment
No comments found.