- .Minister emphasizes government’s resolve to strengthen industry regulation
Members of the Advertising Offences Tribunal have been advised to carry out their assignment diligently to promote ethical standards and professionalism in the Advertising industry.
Information and Culture Minister Alhaji Lai Mohammed yesterday, gave the advice in Abuja during the tribunal’s inauguration.
The tribunal, which is chaired by Justice Cecilia Olatoregun, is an independent specialized judicial body established to ensure equity, openness, fairness, and impartiality in all disputes and offences committed or allegedly committed under the Act.
The other four members of the tribunal are; Mr. Charles Odenigbo, Mr. Moroof Aileru, Mrs. Julia Oku Jack, Alhaji Bello Kankarofi, and Mr. Idorenyen Enang.
The minister said the Federal Government’s interest in boosting the role and mandate of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) for effective regulation of advertising, advertisement, and marketing communication in Nigeria is built on the awareness that the Nigeria Advertising industry holds enormous potentials to influence the nation’s economic growth.
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Calling on members of the tribunal to put in their best, he pointed out that the government realized that in order to exercise the jurisdiction vested by the Act on the Tribunal, it must have persons with relevant knowledge and background in the Nigeria judicial system as well as the Nigeria advertising space, hence the decision for the appointment of the outstanding persons being inaugurated.
The Chairperson, Justice Olatoregun, praised the government and the minister for the bold step taken to sanitize the advertising industry through the body. She thanked the minister and ARCON for the trust they have in members of the tribunal and promised that members will work to the best of their ability. Justice Olatoregun also hailed the Director General of ARCON, Dr. Lekan Fadolapo, for what she called his purposeful leadership and expressed deep appreciation to her colleagues in the tribunal for their willingness to serve the nation through the tribunal.
Earlier, Dr. Fadolapo had commended the minister for his cooperation with ARCON and commitment to enhancing professionalism in the advertising sub-sector of the economy.
“While I’m congratulating our industry and members of the panel for today’s landmark achievement, I will single out our minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed for his pragmatism and commitment to up the game in the advertising industry. Under him, the industry has witnessed the most entrenched reform which has redefined practice and boosted professionalism,”