The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has hinted that the Federal Government has given approval for the implementation of reform initiatives of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) in order to strengthen the advertising ecosystem, encourage inclusive growth as well as attract investment to the industry.
The Minister dropped this hint in Epe, Lagos State, recently at the 49th Annual General Meeting of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN).
“As many of you are aware, one of the bold and necessary steps we have taken in recent times is the approval of the ongoing reform initiatives of APCON. The reform is aimed at strengthening the advertising ecosystem, encouraging inclusive growth as well as attracting investment to the industry,”he said.
In his paper, entitled “The New World Order: Digital Transformation in Communication,” the Minister said advertising and brand marketing are prime examples of sectors where consumer data is critical, hence the need to leverage technology for direct engagement with the audiences.
He said the realisation of the power of technology in brand communication necessitated the setting up of the Ministerial Task Team on Audience Measurement System to give legal and constitutional framework to a national, systemic, accountable and data-driven understanding of the impact of communication on consumer behaviour.
In his address of welcome, the President of AAAN, Mr. Steve Babaeko, commended the Minister for his untiring efforts towards repositioning the advertising ecosystem in Nigeria.
The Minister was accompanied to the event by the Registrar/Chief Executive of APCON, Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, and the Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, Mr. Folorunsho Coker.