The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has inducted 45 Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in the advertising profession in the country.

The Fellowship, the highest level of the profession, is identified as the zenith of professional attainment and is usually conferred according to the measure of a person’s knowledge, experience, competence, and impact in the theory and practice of the advertising profession.

Speaking during the induction ceremony, Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, Director-General of ARCON, stated that advertising statutorily became a regulated profession in Nigeria following the promulgation of the Advertising Practitioners Registration Act in 1988.

He added that the Act (now replaced by the ARCON Act 2022) provided for different categories of members, including Full Member and Fellow, and specified the academic and professional qualifications for registration of practitioners into any of the membership categories.

Reiterating the criteria that qualify one to become a Fellow of ARCON, he said: “Fellowship of the Advertising profession is the highest status of membership of 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 significantly impacted the development of the profession.”

“The criteria include good academic qualification, consistent engagement in the practice of marketing communications for a minimum of fifteen years, involvement in the management of outstanding marketing communications campaigns, service to the profession at the level of the ARCON Governing Council or Industry Sectoral Associations, intellectual or professional expressions, mentorship or endowments, among others.”

A number of these distinguished Fellows are already in their retirement, while a few have passed on to eternal glory. At this ceremony, forty-five practitioners are being conferred and added to the number of active Fellows. Like the ones before them, they are expected to conduct themselves and their marketing communications practice with appropriate dignity and distinction as well as serve as pillars of support and leading lights for the profession. They will subsequently be admitted to the Body of Fellows.

Also speaking during the induction ceremony, Emmanuel Ajufo, Chairman of the Fellowship Selection Committee, noted that the 45 people being inducted have gone through scrutiny and have met the criteria in practice and conduct of advertising.

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He added that 48 applications were filed, but only 45 of the applicants were selected and certified by the committee. He congratulated the inductees and urged them to continue to make the industry proud.

The Doyen of Advertising, Dr Biodun Shobanjo, who was recently inducted as the first African into the Hall of Fame at the Loeries Awards in South Africa, charged practitioners to continue to uphold the honour of the advertising profession.

He also urged ARCON to look beyond the number of years of practice that qualify practitioners to be inducted as fellowship members, but to think about the values that come with being a Fellow.

In his words: “Let’s ask ourselves beyond the fact that you’ve been given a certificate and you have a plaque and then you have a medal to show for it, what exactly does it mean?”

Comparing the ARCON fellowship with legal practice, he said, “What does it really mean when a lawyer is called a Senior Advocate? There are benefits that go with it, and the fact that you’ve been in practice for X number of years does not grant you automatic Senior Advocate status. There is still a process that you have to go through. You’ll be interviewed, and they will look at your conduct, your character, how many cases you’ve done at the Supreme Court, all those kinds of things. I think because we have evolved, we need to take a look at the rules again.”

“ARCON must provide value beyond the certification. The DG of ARCON must engage with other sectoral groups so that together they will agree and decide on the benefits and values of the fellowship.”

Commenting on behalf of the newly inducted Fellows, Fagade Abisoye Ayoyinka, Director-General and CEO of the National Institute of Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), thanked ARCON on behalf of the new inductees.

Onwuchekwa Chinwike, Ebatamehi Kayode Andrew, Idowu Banji Julius, Mouka Reuben Ejike, Ojo Oladapo Mosope, Makinwa Angela Tolulope Ndidi, Ogunmefun Adekunle, Osugo Gerald, Alonge Fadeke Grace, Osubor Okoh Fillius, Nwagwu Brenda, Okere Bidwell Nkemakolam, Okoro Nnayelugo, Ehikhuemen Felix Ehichoya, Ebatamehi Kayode Andrew, Among Others.