The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has conferred honorary fellowships on Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, Director-General of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), Ahmed Abubakar Audi, Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), and Tim Akano, MD/CEO of New Horizon Nigeria, during the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations Week (NIPRW) 2025 in Uyo.
Dr. Fadolapo stated that the honour recognises the synergy between the advertising and the public relations sector in promoting marketing communication’s industry growth.
In an interview with Marketing Edge Publications, Dr. Fadolapo expressed his delight, stating that the honour signifies alignment and collaboration between industries.
“For me personally, this honour means that other industries and critical stakeholders appreciate my contributions towards the growth and improvement of the industry,” Dr. Fadolapo said. “It shows that they believe in the reforms ARCON is pushing and that were providing the right leadership to the advertising industry.”
He highlighted the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between ARCON, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), and the National Institute of Marketing Nigeria (NIMN), emphasising the importance of a united front in the marketing communication industry.
“This induction is an endorsement, a collaboration, and an alignment with other sectoral groups, and it speaks to the fact that we are on the right track,” Dr. Fadolapo noted.
He further emphasised that ARCON and other sectoral groups are inseparable twins in the marketing communication family, with both PR and advertising playing critical roles in communication strategy. The MoU, he said, would facilitate collaboration and smoother transitions for public relations practitioners into the advertising industry, reducing bureaucracy and enhancing workflow.
“The curricula for both fields are closely related within the marketing communication industry. This collaboration will make everything flow more smoothly.”
The honorary fellowship underscores the growing recognition of the interconnectedness between public relations and advertising, and the need for regulatory bodies and industry stakeholders to work together in promoting industry excellence.
On his part, Tim Akano, MD/CEO of New Horizon Nigeria, expressed his gratitude for the honorary fellowship, noting that while he has received several awards in the past, the NIPR recognition stands out due to the institute’s reputation as one of the strongest and most recognized institutions in Nigeria and Africa.
“The fact that NIPR considered me alongside two other esteemed individuals for this award means a lot to me,” Akano said.
He also congratulated Dr. Ike Neliaku, President of NIPR, on his achievements, saying, “I’m thrilled about his success, and it is no surprise, given my 20-year acquaintance with him. He’s done an outstanding job repositioning NIPR into the formidable institution it is today. I am happy for him, and I’m honored to have been recognised alongside him.”
About the fellows
Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, DG, ARCON
Dr. Olalekan Olumuyiwa Fadolapo attended Ogun State University for his first degree in Economics. He holds three (3) master’s degrees: Master of Science in Marketing, (MSc.) Masters in business administration (MBA) and Masters in Legal Studies (MILS) from the Babcock University, Illisan, Ogun State, the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State and the Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos respectively.
He also holds a PhD in Marketing with specialization in Marketing Communications from the Babcock University, Illisan Remo, Ogun State. Dr. Fadolapo is a Fellow of the Advertising Profession, a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and a Fellow of the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN). Dr. Fadolapo was a member of the immediate past Governing Council of Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) and a Member of the Executive Committee of Heads of Advertising Sectoral Groups (HASG). He has served as Secretary to some Advertising Industry Organizations and Bodies.
He was appointed the fourth (4th) substantive Registrar/Chief Executive of APCON, by President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, in August 2020. Sequel to the change of name from Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria, (APCON) to Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), Dr. Fadolapo was appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the first Director General of the Council. He is a recipient of many awards, and has facilitated several seminars, conferences, symposiums.
Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, NSCDC
Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, OFR, mni, is the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). He is a credible and reliable administrator, who is has taken the management of the Corps to a higher height.
Dr. Audi’s doggedness, dedication and commitment to service, has earned him several Professional merit Awards including the most recent from Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR)
Until his appointment as the Commandant General, Dr. Audi had served as Zonal Commander, NSCDC Zone ‘C’ Headquarters, Bauchi, in charge of North-East States. He is a member and Fellow of prestigious professional bodies notable amongst them are: Member, National Institute (mni), having attended Senior Executive Course 38 in NIPSS, Kuru, Jos, 2016; Fellow, Institute of Security and Forensic Studies, Nigeria.
Dr. Audi has a Bachelor of Science Degree (B.Sc) in the same field. This was for the purposes of specialization and harmonization of academic and professional records.
Read also: NIPR re-elects Dr. Neliaku as president
Tim Akano, MD/CEO New Horizons Nigeria
Tim Akano can be best described as multifaceted and multidimensional. He is an Investor, Entrepreneur, Author, Mentor, Philanthropist, Career coach, and highly sought-after Public Speaker. He is the Founder/CEO of New Horizons Nigeria, the largest ICT training institute in Nigeria, and a franchisee of New Horizons International, the world’s Number one ICT training institute with a Head office in California and offices in 90 countries around the world. He is the President of One Africa Initiatives, and the Chairman of FABAAW, a user’s-owned multidimensional social-media Platform.
Through his Organization, New Horizons, over 100,000 students receive various ICT certification training though New Horizons partnership with 25 universities and 150 High Schools, Corporate Organizations and Public Institutions.
Tim Akano through New Horizons, gives scholarships to about 20,000 students, Youths and NYSC members to acquire ICT skills yearly at a highly subsidized price and sometimes 100% free.
Tim Akano has received well over 200 awards and recognitions nationally, continentally, and globally, especially in the areas of Youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, and technology development. His NGO, OAI has over 10,000 youths from 50 African countries undergoing mentoring. Through One Africa Initiatives (OAI), Tim Akano organizes free Masterclasses geared towards empowering African Youth regularly.
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