The Advertisers Association of Nigeria has raised concerns over the continued absence of a governing council for the advertising profession, arguing that the lack of an independent council separate from the regulatory body is detrimental to the industry.

President of ADVAN, Osamede Uwubanmwen, in a telephone interview, expressed dissatisfaction with the structure of the Advertisers Regulatory Council of Nigeria, stating that the law establishing it failed to provide a clear distinction between regulation and professional governance, submitting, “We are the only industry or profession that has both the professional body and regulatory body with the same address.”

According to Uwubanmwen, other professions have separate councils overseeing professional development while regulatory agencies handle enforcement. “The bankers have their Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, as the Central Bank of Nigeria regulates the practice.

“The pharmacists have their Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, as the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control regulate the pharmaceutical industry. The judiciary has the Nigerian Bar Association as the professional body, while the National Judicial Council is the regulator.”


He argued that the advertising industry should not be an exception, stressing that ARCON was originally meant to regulate advertising practice, and the former Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria transitioned to the professional body. “If tomorrow, as a profession, we decide on certain things, we have to meet the regulator. This is not how other professions operate.”

APCON was established in 1988 to regulate advertising but, 34 years later, transitioned into ARCON following calls for a more structured regulatory framework. Expanded legislation gave ARCON more oversight powers to address digital and traditional advertising challenges.

ADVAN expressed its reservations about some of the ARCON Act 2022’s outcomes, including its definition of advertising terminology and provisions for a governing council.

https://punchng.com/advan-decries-lack-of-governing-council-for-advertising-sector/