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Tag: APCON

  • NB: APCON, NAFDAC approve our promos

    The Nigerian Breweries (NB) Plc yesterday said all its consumer sales promotions were vetted and approved by the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) and the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

    Reacting to last week’s temporarily shut down  of its  operations  in  Abuja  and  its corporate  head  office  in  Iganmu,  Lagos, by the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), it said it never ran any promo without approval.

    The Commission shut down the offices and business premises of NB across the country over its demand for payment of certain disputed fees for various consumer sales promotions by NB.

    But the firm said it has always ensured that it complied with all legitimate demands of government agencies, which are in accordance with the rule of law and has never sought to or seek to deprive government of its legitimate revenue.

    She added that prior to the above action, the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) on behalf of its member companies including Nigerian Breweries Plc had instituted an action at the Federal High Court (FHC) in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/306/12 against the Commission.

    The action, she said, challenged the powers of the Commission to regulate consumer sales promotions in the country more so as they form part of the marketing and sales activities of the concerned companies.

    “The matter is subsisting at the Court of Appeal in Suit No: CA/A/267/2016, the appeal having been brought at the instance of the Commission. A cross-appeal was subsequently instituted by NECA against the decision of the FHC, the statement said.

    Ikem, however said despite the dispute, Nigerian Breweries Plc remained committed to winning with Nigeria and will continue to engage with all the appropriate stakeholders while seeking to protect and uphold its reputation as a good corporate citizen in the country.

  • 2019: APCON concerned over illegal practices

    The Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria has shared its concerns over the various unethical and illegal practices being employed by politicians and the media in the race for the 2019 general elections.

    The group said this at the Stakeholders Forum on Political Communication hosted by APCON, which took place at the International Conference Centre, Abuja on Thursday Oct. 11th.

    Prof. Umaru A. Pate from the Faculty of Communication at Bayero University, Kano, who gave a presentation at the forum, stated that the desperation of politicians to win elections has led to many taking crooked actions to achieve their goals.

    “This is the season of high wire politics characterized by intense political advertising, political public relations and media and general communication activities all over the country,” he spoke.

    “The media need politicians as authoritative sources of information and robust advertisements; politicians need the media for publicity and exposure

    “Advertisements containing hate speech have been published in papers and online; political candidates of the ruling political parties discredit, damage, and insult one another.

    “There is politicization and mismanagement of ethno-religious identities, tendencies for inappropriate, unethical and illegal behaviors, fragile polity with challenging indices: army of unemployed angry talented youth, pervasive poverty, high level and widespread corruption, and much more.

    “Even the media engages in selective representation.”

    Read Also: 2019: I am candidate of the people – Ezekwesili

    The professor acknowledged the relevant role media plays in advertising political candidates and pleaded with the various media houses and bloggers not to repeat the same mistakes made in the general elections of 2015.

    “In 2015, APCON observed that electioneering campaign communications were largely pedestrian, combative, provocative and insensitive in language and style

    “APCON also observed the tendency by political candidates and their supporters to abuse their freedom of speech and engage in spurious promotional campaigns that exploited the public and undermined societal harmony and well being.

    “We warned that these actions threatened Nigeria’s democratic process and national security. The APCON’s Code on political advertisement was undermined and neglected.”

    Pate implored the media advertisers to adhere to the APCON code of advertising in order to maintain stability and peace in 2019.

    “There is a need to balance the national interest and the business interest of advertisers in portraying their principals,” he said.

    “Advertisers should stick to APCON guidelines on political advertisements and all regulatory requirements like securing approval before exposure.

    Also speaking at the occasion, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Culture, Grace Isu Gekpe, who represented the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, reminded advertisers that the Nigerian Broadcasting code as well as the APCON code require that political advertisements deal with issues and not personalities, limit their messaging to what candidates have to offer the electorate, rather than making disparaging reference to their opponents.

    “We have observed a number of advertisements which have not satisfied these provisions of the code and are to that extent, unhealthy for our social and democratic progress.

    “I am informed that contrary to the demands of the law and code of advertising, these unwholesome advertisements were not submitted to the vetting and approval process of the Advertising Standards Panel (ASP) which is a statutory and representative organ of APCON empowered to vet and approve advertisements before they are exposed to the public.

    “I therefore appeal to individuals and organisations particularly, political parties, election candidates and their supporters who engage in the design and deployment of advertisements to ensure compliance with the law and code of advertising.

    “I would like to join APCON in requesting media owners to play their gate keeping role by demanding the ASP certificates of approval before accepting advertisements for exposure in their media.

    “By so doing, we would be securing the media space and airtime from being used to spread hate, create social conflicts and assault the sensibilities of the public.”

  • APCON partners BRANDSCOM for strategy, design workshops

    Professionals from various industries are warming up for the take-off of an extremely practical workshop organized by the collaboration of Brandscom International with Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) led by proven industry trainers.

    The special workshop which is open to all professionals as well as leaders of organisations ,including faith-based organisations according to the organisers has been designed for people who seek to understand the core principles that guide Strategic Brand Management and how to practically use them to build strong brands and solve nagging organisational problems.

    Aside branding, two other highly lucrative courses – 3D Modeling and Web Design/Web Graphics are also to be taught in this workshop.

    According to the Workshop Coordinator, Mr Niyi Ladipo of Brandscom International, to be relevant in these ever-dynamic times, when brands are craving for new ways to winning brand wars; it is necessary to up one’s game by taking advantage of this Strategic Brand Management/Therapy and Design workshops. A specialized session of the training will focus on “New Winning Strategies for Brands in Turbulent Economies and Keen Competition”.

    Trainers at the training includes:

    Joshua Akinbanjo (Facilitator, APCON, Orange Academy & Chief Executive- Numuv Quest Africa, Lagos)

    Albert G. Udoh mpsn, fnimn (Former, Head of Marketing & Strategy Emzor Pharmaceutical Ltd., now CEO and Lead Consultant of Entafrique Consulting, Abuja- an Enterprise Development company)

    Abdulmalik Musa (Pioneer Lead, Online Design, Jumia….now Team Lead, Application Development, ARM Pensions)

    Bolaji Liadi (Lead Illustrator, SO&U Nigeria, Lagos).

    Feibo Babasola (Team Lead -PXC Digital)

    Dates & Venue:

    1st Session: 23rd of May to 25th of May, 2018.(For Strategic Brand Management and Effective Online Marketing class only)

    2nd Session: 26th of May, 2nd of June, 9th of June and 16th of June, 2018.(For 3D Modeling class)

    3rd Session: 26th of May, 2nd of June, 9th of June and 16th of June, 2018.(For Web Design and Web Graphics class)

    Venue: LCCI Conference & Exhibition Centre (Bola Tinubu Way, beside Marwa/MKO garden, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.

    Interested participants can register and find more details by visiting; www.brandscomint.com/training/

  • FrieslandCampina WAMCO appoints new Marketing Director

    FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria PLC has announced the appointment of Chris Wulff-Caesar as its Marketing Director with effect from 1 April, 2018.

    By this, Chris joins the Management Team of the company and will report to the Managing Director, Ben Langat and is expected to work from Lagos, Nigeria.

    He is saddled with the responsibility to lead the marketing team behind Peak Milk, to drive strong consumer experience and innovation.

    In his remark, Managing Director, Ben Langat, said: “We’re making massive strides towards increasing the dairy portfolio for consumer preference and living our mission of providing quality and affordable nutrition for Nigerians; together with Chris, we will continue to put the consumer first in realizing our business ambitions.”

    Until his appointment at FrieslandCampina WAMCO, Chris Wulff-Caesar was the Marketing Director, West Africa (Ghana & Nigeria) at ABInBev and member of the Board of Accra Brewery Ltd in Ghana. During his tenure, he led the establishment of a formidable brand portfolio which transformed the markets to wrestle share away from incumbent competitors. Whilst at SABMiller, he also held the positions of Category

    Expansion/Innovation Manager for Africa based in Johannesburg (2010 -2012) and Marketing Director for Ghana (2007 – 2010).

    He is a proven marketer, commercial operator and business leader with almost 20 years working experience in both local and international roles for ABInBev, SABMiller and Unilever. His career has seen him accrue a wealth of experience in managing the primary assets of these leading FMCG organizations i.e. brands and people.

    Chris Wulff-Caesar, a Ghanaian, holds a BA (Honors) Degree in Economics from the University of Ghana and an MBA from the Edinburgh Business School of the Heriot-Watt University in Scotland United Kingdom. He is an Associate member of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON).

    He is also involved with a few non-profit organizations which target the development and establishment of infrastructure for primary education for disadvantaged students.

    Chris succeeds Tarang Gupta, who is now the Managing Director, FrieslandCampina (Dutch Lady) Malaysia. FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria PLC is affiliated to Royal FrieslandCampina of The Netherlands, one of the largest dairy cooperatives in the world.

  • Furore over policy inconsistencies at APCON

    From all indications, it does appear that the newly constituted Council of Advertising Practitioner Council of Nigeria APCON, is causing a lot of ripples within the advertising circles as practitioners are battle ready to rough shod with the government over what they described as undue interference from that quarters.

    Thus all industry stakeholders are unanimously seeking  for autonomy of APCON from the shackles of the federal government, noting that such was the only way to make the regulatory agency truly independent like the Nigerian Medical Association, ICAN and NIPR.

    Expectedly, the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN), through the Chairman Government Relations Liaison Committee and Group Chief Executive Officer of Centerspread, Mr. Kola Ayanwale said the Association in conjunction with other stakeholders have presented a formal protest letter in respect of the announcement of nominees for the new APCON Council to the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

    He stated that the socalled appointment is illegal, null and void and of no effect, disclosing that what was purportedly announced was in clear contradiction of the original list submitted to the federal government.

    The newly appointed APCON Council members by federal government include Hon. Jacob Sunday (Chairman), Chief Dayo Abatan, Aloysius Okafor, Sani Tulu, Akor Sunday, Ismaila Umar Sifawa and Murtala Adamu Atiku.

    The appointment is contrary to the APCON law which demands that Council members must be Fellows of the regulatory body.

    Mr. Ayanwale, a seasoned advertising practitioner stated that no stone would be left unturned to get the so called appointment reversed as advertising is a specialised field that can only be regulated by the initiated.

    The Nigerian Advertising Laws, Rules and Regulations Act 55 of 1988 (as amended), states that a chairman, who should be appointed by the President, shall be a distinguished Fellow of the profession. Also, seven persons are to be appointed by the minister, one of whom shall be from the Ministry of Information and the rest from among other interests in advertising, which in the opinion of the minister, ought to be adequately represented. In a swift reaction to the names of the announced nominees, top advertising practitioners flayed the federal government decision, insisting that the attempt to once again foist non advertising practitioners on the regulatory body would be greatly resisted.

    To corroborate this, renowned advertising practitioner and Chairman Troyka Group, Mr. Biodun Shobanjo, said the incessant flouting of APCON rules by the federal government is unwarranted, noting that such exercise is an affront on the constitution of the country. He, however, observed that the only way to curb this is to free APCON from the financial apron strings of the federal government.

    His words: “As it is often said, he who pays the piper dictates the tune. For as long as the government continues to fund APCON, so long will it continue to appoint politicians and whomsoever or assume the right to meddle in the affairs of APCON. Except APCON is able to fund itself, this nonsense and illegality will continue.” Continuing, the advertising guru said, “I hold the view that government has no understanding of what APCON represents. They think it is such a big organisation that can provide avenue for its board to throw some weight around and possibly do some chopping.”

  • Media Perspectives appoints Jude Odia COO

    Media Perspectives appoints Jude Odia COO

    Within two months of his elevation to the post of the General Manager of Media Perspectives, Jude Odia, regarded as one of Nigeria’s most promising media advertising executives, has been promoted Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the agency.

    The former General Manager has played key roles in the growth of the frontline media agency. His wealth of experience in communications planning and brand strategy has helped Media Perspectives create noteworthy campaigns for MTN, NB Plc, Samsung, Procter and Gamble, among others. With his new appointment, Odia will be overseeing the administrative activities and general management of the agency.

    Industry watchers are not surprised over this development; as feelers revealed that he has paid his dues in the industry having been part and parcel of the agency’s origin, growth and development. Besides, he is also believed to the best man for the job based on his reputation as an erudite strategist with core strength in brand strategy, integrated communications, planning and end-to-end accounts management. He has led and coordinated account management teams across West Africa that implemented many successful media advertising campaigns for leading multinational clients. He has also developed winning media strategies for multinational/local brands in Nigeria and across the West Africa markets.

    Odia, an associate member of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), has a solid academic background. He bagged his B.A Honours English/ Literature from the prestigious University of Benin. In 2016, he earned his Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Bradford, UK. He is also a Lagos Business School alumnus.

    His professional sojourn began in 2001 as a presenter and producer with Minaj Broadcast International, now defunct. In 2003, he got his first agency job as a Media Executive, Research & Data Analyst at Initiative Media (now Sharemind Media).

    In March 2007, he was appointed as Head, Strategy & Planning at Capital Media. Barely one and half months after he joined the media agency, Odia called it quits and headed off to the banking industry. He was Group Head, Brand Management for FinBank Plc, between September 2008 and December 2010.

    He joined Media Perspectives in February 2011, and rose through the ranks from Group Head, Strategy and Planning; to Associate Media Director, Strategy; Media Director and General Manager. He occupied that position until his recent appointment as COO.

    In addition, Odia is an industry resource person that facilitates training for sectorial bodies like Media Independent Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MIPAN) and has championed mentorship within the Agency, currently runs a private and non-profit mentorship weekend program for young media executives.

  • ‘Delay in restoring APCON council lies with FEC’

    ‘Delay in restoring APCON council lies with FEC’

    Restoration of the Advertising Practitioners Council (APCON) Board lies with the Federal Executive Council and not the National Assembly, Chairman Senate Committee on Information and National Orientation, Senator Enyin-naya Abaribe, has said.

    Abaribe spoke on the sideline of an International Summit on Advertising in Lagos on Friday.

    He said stakeholders should not hold the National Assembly responsible for the delay in restoring the council, but rather should pray the executive arm of the government to lift the sledge hammer on the council.

    The council comprise Advertising Association of Nigeria (ADVAN), Association of Advertising Agencies in Nigeria (AAAN), Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), Media Independent Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MIPAN), Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN), Federal Ministry of Information and communication and Federal Ministry of Health as well as universities/polytechnics offering advertising-related courses.

    The council was dissolved last year with other government agencies last year by President Muhammadu Buhari, the industry stakeholders believe such decision has hampered the advertising reform which aims at ensuring compliance with codes of advertising practice and rules of engagement for foreign investors.

    Abaribe, however, assured stakeholders that while they await Federal Government to lift the hammer on the council, the National Assembly would ensure the speedy passage of the APCON enabling laws reflecting some of the concerns raised at the advertising summit.

    “The APCON enabling law is before the Assembly. We will make use of what comes of here in amending the APCON bill. It is not the fault of National Assembly that the APCON council is not in place. It is the hands of the FEC,” he said.

    President  Buhari’s blanket dissolution of the boards of agencies, commissions, and parastatals is said to have returned APCON to the comatose it suffered for 18 months during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    For that period of time, the government did not appoint a chairman to constitute the council of APCON, the regulator of integrated marketing communications (IMC).

    Based on a letter dated July 16, 2015 (referenced SGF.19/S.81/XIX/964) signed by the head of federal civil service, Danladi Kifasi vacated the council and relinquished its powers to APCON registrar/chief executive officer.

    The council, which was inaugurated on March 26, 2015, made history as the most short-lived.

     

  • Minister to inaugurate committee on motion picture

    Minister to inaugurate committee on motion picture

    Agitataion by filmmakers on the need to have a central professional body like their counterparts at Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) is yielding effort, as the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Thursday, announced April 8, 2016 as date to kick-start the process.

    The Minister will on the set date inaugurate a Ministerial Committee aimed at fast-tracking the passage into law of the much anticipated MOPPICON Bill.

    Scheduled to take place at the Conference Room of the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, the 17-member Committee will have the Founder/CEO of Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), Ms Peace Anyiam-Osigwe as Coordinator, while the Chairman, Audio-Visual Rights Society of Nigeria (AVRS), Mr. Mahmood Alli-Balogun as Deputy Coordinator. Mr. Tony Anih of the Film Makers Collective will also serve as the Secretary to the committee.

    The committee is expected to review and harmonize the MOPPICON Bill ahead of its submission to the Ministry of Justice and then the National Assembly.

    The committee will also have representatives of the various Nollywood guilds and associations as members. They include Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN), Motion Picture Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MOPPAN) and Producers, Marketers Association of Nigeria (FVPMAN), Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (ANTP), Screen Writers Guild of Nigeria (SWGN), Actors Guild of Nigeria(AGN), Movie Ambassadors of Nigeria, Niger Delta Film Forum and Female Producers of Nigeria.

    Others are representatives of the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC), National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Federal Ministry of Information and Culture.

    The Minister had announced the plan to set up the Committee at the 2016 Kannywood Awards in Abuja on March 13th.

    When established, MOPPICON will regulate, administer and control the motion picture practice in Nigeria.

     

  • We ’ll look into APCON’s dissolution, says Lai Mohammed

    We ’ll look into APCON’s dissolution, says Lai Mohammed

    The Minister Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has assured advertising stakeholders that he will look into the dissolution of council of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) and see how the council will return to work.

    Mohammed, who gave the assurance during a visit to the APCON head office in Lagos, said APCON is more of a professional body and an institute and regulator, which should be run by professionals.

    He said he is aware that the agency has not been able to perform its statutory duties since the council was dissolved .

    “APCON is not just a key agency in the ministry. It is a catalyst in the advertising industry and economy. APCON is often misunderstood for what its stands for. It is a regulator and institute. It is a professional body and those who constitute the board should be professionals. APCON board is not for politicians.  I urge the management to furnish me with more information.  APCON council is a matter that we will address immediately because it is affecting the job of the council,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the minister took a swipe on the council for turning a blind eye to the hate and abusive advertisements and documentaries that dominated the 2015 general elections. He stressed that such inaction could destroy the country.

    He noted that there were advertisements that insulted ethnic and religious sensitivities as well as the airing of documentaries that did little to unite the country, expressing the belief that the regulatory agency was mindful of them but gave itself away as incapable of stopping the practice, which deepened the nation’s fault-lines.

    The Minister urged APCON to always summon the courage to shut out offensive and inciting advertisements from the pages of newspapers and the airwaves.

    According to him, “in the run-up to the last general elections, I am sure you all saw a lot of advertisements that were capable of tearing this country apart”. “There were adverts that insulted ethnic and religious sensitivities. There were adverts that were purely offensive to people. Documentaries were aired that did little to unite this country,” he said.

    He, however, promised to address other challenges facing the council, which include the monitoring of over 6,000 channels by providing technological equipment that will aid the monitoring.

     

     

  • National Theatre shuts gate against FG workers

    National Theatre shuts gate against FG workers

    The management of National Theatre in Lagos on Wednesday prevented vehicles of other Federal Government agencies within the complex from gaining access to their offices.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the alternate gate used to these officers were closed by the management of the Natioal Theatre as early as 7.00 a.m.

    Other Federal government agencies within the complex include the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) and National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO)

    NAN reports that the vehicles had arrived the alternate gate leading to their offices at about 7.45 a.m, but could not gain access because the gate was locked.

    The workers, after waiting for a while, alighted from their staff buses and private cars and walked to their offices after all pleas to open the gate failed.

    This development is not new as the affected workers are often locked out, leading to loss of man hours before the gate is opened.

    One of the workers in the complex, Mr Bello Wasiu, described the situation as a disappointment, describing the decision as erratic.”

    “The national theatre is a federal establishment that houses many other federal agencies. Why should these other workers be locked out?

    “This is very bad, if everybody were like me, we will pull down this gate and continue with the case thereafter.

    “There is no reason for the gate being there at all; the management of the theatre can only fence its area.’’

    A driver, who simply identified himself as George, described the action as unreasonable and unimaginable.

    George said that the development was new as workers in APCON, NICO, NAN and other agencies have been working in the complex withut any inhibition.

    “Some of these agencies have been here for more than 30 years and we have never been prevented from entering our offices. This is official recklessnes,’’ he said.

    Another worker, Mr Isaac Ojo, said that “this kind of behaviour is bad; it will not happen in a civilised society.

    “To me, it is like the management of theatre is holding animosity against the agencies, but we are working for the same Federal Government.”

    Also a staff of APCON, who preferred anonymity, said that the current management of national theatre had never been considerate in dealing with neighbours.

    “The current management of the theatre has closed all the gates into the complex except one, but ironically the place should a place for relaxation and a public place.

    “Its management is unwittingly shutting its doors against patrons of the popular relaxation spots in the complex.

    “The theatre management may be taking these decisions in the name of security, but rather than shut all the gates, security men be posted to man the gates.

    NAN reports that all the staff buses and cars of the workers were forced to park outside the gate for hours.

    An official of the national theatre, who pleaded anonymity, said that the gate was closed to forestall security breaches within the complex.

    He said that the action was not to embarrass the affected workers.