NIPR inaugurates Fadolapo, Bayo-Ajayi into Nigeria Reputation Management Advisory Board

The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has inducted Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, Director General of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), and Dr. Bolajoko Bayo-Ajayi, President of the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN), into the Nigeria Reputation Management Advisory Board (NRMB).

However, the inauguration took place at the ongoing inaugural Nigeria Reputation Summit 2026, themed “The Power of Youth, Technology and Creativity in Rebuilding Nigeria’s Reputation.”

Meanwhile, the summit brings together stakeholders to develop actionable strategies for strengthening Nigeria’s image both locally and internationally.

Notably,  NRMB represents one of NIPR’s most ambitious initiatives since its establishment.

In addition, the he board emerged from recommendations made at the Institute’s 2022 Citizens Summit for National Integration, Peace and Security, which called for a corporate body dedicated solely to managing Nigeria’s reputation.

In 2025, the NIPR assembled the board’s Body of Advisers, appointing Dr. John Momoh, OON, as inaugural Chairman of the Nigeria Reputation Management Group (NRMG).

Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Mr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, was inaugurated as Vice Chairman, while Dr. Muhammad Kudu Abubakar became pioneer Secretary.

Dr. Fadolapo: The Reformer at ARCON

Dr. Fadolapo brings to the NRMB a track record of transformative leadership at ARCON. A scholar with a PhD in Marketing Communications from Babcock University, he holds three master’s degrees in Marketing, Business Administration, and Legal Studies, alongside fellowships in accounting (FCA), marketing (FNIMN), and advertising (FRPA).

His tenure at ARCON has been defined by bold reforms. He championed the ARCON Act of 2022, which replaced the outdated 2004 legislation and repositioned the Council as the apex regulatory authority for advertising in Nigeria.

The new law granted ARCON enforcement powers to sanction unethical practices and ensure a level playing field for all stakeholders.

Beyond legislative changes, Fadolapo transformed ARCON’s institutional culture.

He shifted the Council from being viewed as a punitive regulator to becoming a respected partner in industry development, introducing accountability and dialogue as cornerstones of the agency’s engagement with stakeholders.

One of his most consequential policies has been the mandatory local production of commercials for Nigerian audiences.

Despite initial resistance, Fadolapo stood firm, declaring that ARCON would not be intimidated or swayed by propaganda.

The policy has triggered a renaissance in local production, with Nigerian creatives, directors, and post-production houses now leading brand storytelling.

Under his watch, ARCON also enforced the ban on foreign models and voiceovers in advertisements targeting Nigerian consumers.

Fadolapo argued that a nation of over 240 million people deserves to see itself reflected in its own advertising.

He introduced the concept of “glocalization”—blending global strategy with local execution to ensure economic value remains within Nigeria.

Plans for a Nigerian stock image platform are underway, further empowering local talent and reducing dependence on foreign content.

Dr. Bayo-Ajayi: Marketing Excellence and Empowerment

Dr. Bolajoko Bayo-Ajayi made history in December 2025 when she became the first female president of the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN), marking a watershed moment for gender representation in Nigeria’s marketing profession.

A marketing and management consultant with 23 years of experience, Bayo-Ajayi has worked with global multinationals including Guinness Nigeria and Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited.

She is currently CEO and Principal Consultant at Purple Pearl Consulting, a marketing consultancy providing strategy development, brand building, and execution of innovative ideas that sustainably grow market share.

Her expertise extends beyond corporate consulting. A certified coach from the Coaching Academy UK, Bayo-Ajayi complements her marketing work with coaching and mentorship.

She founded the Every Girl Empowered Foundation, which focuses on building the self-esteem and confidence of the girl child.

Currently pursuing doctoral studies with a specialty in Entrepreneurship, Bayo-Ajayi is a member of several professional bodies, including the Chartered Institute of Marketing (UK), and holds fellowship status with NIMN.

She is also a member of the Advertisers Practitioner Council of Nigeria (APCON), Women in Management, Business & Public Service (WIMBIZ), and the International Coach Federation (ICF) Nigeria Chapter.

An accomplished author and speaker, she has addressed numerous seminars and conferences, bringing her philosophy of purposeful marketing and authentic leadership to audiences across Nigeria and beyond.

The addition of Fadolapo and Bayo-Ajayi to the Nigeria Reputation Management Board signals NIPR’s commitment to drawing expertise from across Nigeria’s marketing communications ecosystem.

 

Their combined experience in regulation, brand management, and strategic communications positions the board to tackle the complex challenge of rebuilding Nigeria’s global reputation through coordinated, multi-stakeholder action.