Dignitaries at ARCON-NBA Town-Hall Meeting in Lagos. Credit: Ameachi Obiakpu
By Tunji Faleye
The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has teamed up with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Lawyers in the Media Forum to enhance compliance and ethical standards in Nigeria’s advertising sector.
This collaboration was solidified during a stakeholders’ forum held in Ikeja on Tuesday, where regulators, legal experts, and industry leaders gathered to discuss the evolution of advertising in Nigeria and the crucial role of the Advertising Offences Tribunal (AOT) in fostering responsible communication in our increasingly digital world.
In her opening remarks, Justice Cecilia Olatoregun (retd), the Chairman of the Advertising Offences Tribunal, emphasized that the tribunal was created to ensure compliance, uphold ethical standards, and address the rising issues of misinformation and regulatory breaches in advertising.
She pointed out that Nigeria’s advertising industry has grown beyond traditional media into a variety of digital platforms, highlighting the need for stronger oversight and a more unified regulatory framework.
During a panel discussion, ARCON’s Director-General, Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, shared insights on how digital transformation and e-commerce have changed advertising practices. “We now operate in a borderless advertising world,” he remarked. “This reality calls for enhanced cross-border collaboration and compliance to safeguard consumers and uphold the integrity of the industry.”
Other panelists included NBA President, Afam Osigwe (SAN); Director-General of the Centre for Media Law and Development, Dr. Charles Odenigbo; and Chairman of the Heads of Advertising Sectoral Groups (HASG), Lanre Adisa. Together, they emphasized the need to strike a balance between creative freedom and legal responsibility, especially as digital advertising continues to grow.
In his keynote address, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Akinlolu Kehinde, referred to the Advertising Offences Tribunal as “a groundbreaking initiative” aimed at ensuring ethical practices in the advertising industry.
He shared that the tribunal was set up to tackle some pressing issues in the industry — like gaps in jurisdiction, weak enforcement, lengthy legal battles, and a lack of specialized knowledge when it comes to resolving disputes related to advertising.
He noted that the tribunal has played a key role in enhancing the culture of compliance, encouraging fair competition, and discouraging misleading ads that could negatively impact consumers. The event wrapped up with a strong call for ongoing collaboration among regulators, legal professionals, and industry players to nurture professionalism, safeguard consumers, and promote ethical communication across both traditional and digital media platforms.
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