ADVAN unhappy, criticises exclusion from advertising tribunal talk

Association of Advertisers of Nigeria (ADVAN) has expressed disappointment over its exclusion from an upcoming Town Hall Meeting jointly organised by the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) and the Nigerian Bar Association Lawyers in the Media Forum (NBA-LIM).

The event, scheduled for Tuesday, 14 October 2025, at the Sheba Events Centre, Ikeja, Lagos, is themed “The Nigerian Advertising Law: The Role of the Advertising Offences Tribunal (AOT).”

It is expected to feature top legal and industry figures, including Dr Olalekan Fadolapo, Director-General of ARCON; Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, President of the Nigerian Bar Association; Barrister Charles Odenigbo, Director-General of the Centre for Media Law and Development; and Mr Lanre Adisa, Chairman of the Heads of Advertising Sectoral Groups (HASG).

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In a statement, ADVAN clarified that it was not invited to attend or participate in the event.

Representing corporate advertisers, multinationals, and SMEs that use marketing to promote their services, ADVAN described the omission as “unfortunate,” given its critical role in Nigeria’s marketing and communications ecosystem.

The association emphasised that the absence of advertisers from discussions aimed at deepening awareness of Nigeria’s advertising regulatory framework undermines the objective of achieving balanced and inclusive dialogue.

“While we acknowledge the importance of engagements that promote understanding of the legal and regulatory landscape governing advertising in Nigeria, true progress can only come through collaboration and mutual respect,” the statement noted.

ADVAN reaffirmed its commitment to constructive engagement with regulatory authorities and industry stakeholders.

It called for future forums to ensure that advertisers; the core funders of the marketing and communications value chain; are adequately represented in discussions affecting their interests.

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The association maintained that inclusive and transparent stakeholder participation remains vital to ensuring that Nigeria’s advertising regulation evolves in a fair and equitable manner.

Rtn. Victor Ojelabi

Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.