The Advertising Practitioners’ Council of Nigeria, APCON, has recently inaugurated three Committees in a not too elaborate ceremony held at the Sheraton Lagos Hotel, Ikeja. The Committees inaugurated were: The Advertising Standards Panel (ASP), The Advertising Code Review Committee, and The Advertising Industry Standard of Practice (AISoP) Committee.

While inaugurating the Committees, the Registrar/Chief Executive of APCON, Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, charged the Committees to develop appropriate strategies as well as deploy “out of the box” ideas/frameworks that will ensure that the Council fundamentally improves its regulatory mandates and service delivery.

“I am convinced that the teams we have selected here today will approach this assignment with all sense of responsibility and commitment, and serve as enablers for the achievement of the Council’s success. I therefore charge all heads of the Committees to ensure that they leave no stone unturned in carrying out their respective assignments.”

The APCON boss explained that in executing the assignment, the Committees were expected to deliver well on their various tasks and within scheduled time as according to him, time was of the essence.

He emphasized that the task before the Committees include: identifying peculiar sectoral challenges, suggest immediate and long term implementation policies, recommend action plans that will galvanize the industry and that will improve service delivery and benefit stakeholders.

The Code Review  Committee and AISoP were expected to conclude their tasks within three months. He called on the entire industry to put all hands on deck to work together to make the Advertising  Industry an enviable entity.

Still on strategising and realigning its operations, the Council announced  Mrs. Omowunmi Owodunni as the new Chairperson of the Advertising Standards Panel (ASP) – the Statutory Panel charged with the duty of ensuring that advertisements conform to the prevailing laws of the Federation as well as the Code of advertising ethics of the advertising profession.

Owodunni is the first female to head the Apex Regulatory Body’s Statutory Committee. She succeeds Mr. Charles Abraham who has been Chairman since 2015 and whose tenure witnessed remarkable achievements/developmental strides.

Speaking on the appointment, the Registrar/Chief Executive of ÀPCON, Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo said that the approval is a mark of confidence on the Council by the Government and at the same time it demonstrates the Council’s obligation to change the course of history.

“We are delighted to variegate and to be change makers. Women participation and leadership in the industry must be promoted and fostered so as to bring new perspectives to achieve further progress.

He went on to say that “we are focused on improving our efficiency and further strengthening the Council’s broader commitment to investing in the highest quality of human capital, using the extraordinary pool of talent and experience available in the industry.”

Prior to this appointment, Owodunni has led a distinguished career which has straddled various roles in the Advertising Industry. She started as an Advertising Copy Writer, to Creative and Business Leadership, Marketing Communications Training and Lecturing. Other senior management roles she held include Creative Director, STB-McCann/Twenty-first Century Communications respectively, Assistant Director, Corporate Communications, IGI, Director, Business Service & Brand Development, Verdant Zeal Limited, Executive Director, Creative Services & Business Development, STB-McCann, Chief Operating Officer, STB-McCann and ended up as the Managing Director, STB-McCann from 2014 to 2018.

Owodunni is an alumnus of the University of Ilorin where she earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in English. She has attended trainings, seminars and workshops in renowned institutions locally and globally.

As a consummate professional with over twenty years cognate experience, Owodunni will bring to bear her knowledge, experience and leadership to the Council.