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Tag: ARCON

  • ARCON, other stakeholders seek boost in GDP

    ARCON, other stakeholders seek boost in GDP

    • By Afolabi Idowu

    The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria, ARCON, together with leading sectoral bodies in the marketing communications ecosystem in Nigeria have mooted the idea of improved revenue to the economy through advertising spends.

    The advertisers’ body hopes to dissect this issue as part of plans for the 2023 edition of the industry’s much anticipated annual event, the National Advertising Conference.

    With the theme ‘Marketing Communications as an enabler for National Transformation,’ the conference is scheduled for December 6 – 8, 2023 at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory.

    The organisers created two committees to handle core projects that form the fulcrum of the conference.

    These committees are the Brand Nigeria Campaign Committee chaired by Steve Babaeko, the president of the AAAN and the GDP Multiplier Committee which is chaired by Femi Adelusi, the president of MIPAN.

    Speaking at the gathering, the Director General of ARCON, Dr. Lekan Fadolapo, explained that the Brand Nigeria Campaign Committee is an initiative of the industry to take a look at Nigeria as a brand and come up with a campaign.

    “We are going to take a detailed look at all the elements, the DNA, and come up with a communication for it. This is our own industry’s effort aimed at positioning the country’s brand in its right place among the comity of nations. We know that nobody can do this better than professionals,” he said.

    The second Committee, the GDP Multiplier Committee, is to take a critical look at the industry, examine some critical challenges bedeviling the ecosystem and impeding effective utilisation of the inherent benefits for the development of the economy.

    Read Also: ARCON decries quackery in oncology

    It would aim at providing solutions to issues such as the nation’s adspend, the industry’s contribution to the GDP and the multiplier effect of this contribution to the economy.

    “First of all, what does the industry spend? Secondly, what is the industry’s contribution to GDP? Thirdly, what is the multiplier effect of this contribution? In other climes and markets, there are existing answers to these questions. We are a tripod – the advertiser, the agency and the media.

    “Within this ecosystem we provide employment, within this ecosystem there is money moving in and out so we want to take a detailed look at this and how this is impacting the economy positively. So it is for us to sit down to interrogate the body of knowledge as well as every other element that contributes to this profession we call advertising,” Dr. Fadolapo noted.

    Also expatiating on the plans for the Conference, Mr. Tunji Adeyinka, chairman of the Planning Committee, was optimistic that this year’s conference is something that will be worthwhile for every professional.

    He explained that in planning for this year’s Conference, the Committee set out very clearly to not just replicate a talk shop, but to have a conference that is able to deliver on some of the key highlights and imperatives that came out of the 2022 Conference.

    “Because of the time that we are in, with the new administration and with the transfer of power that we had earlier this year, the theme for this year’s conference is Marketing Communications as an Enabler for National Transformation. To form the centre of this, we focused on two key issues that came out of the last year’s conference. The first issue was determining the size of the industry, the contribution to GDP and the multiplier factor. Those were the three different questions that came from the second presentation of the session.”

  • ARCON decries quackery in oncology

    ARCON decries quackery in oncology

    The Association of Radiation and Clinical Oncologists of Nigeria (ARCON) has decried the rising cases of quackery and unprofessional practices in the oncological profession across the country.

    Oncologists are cancer and turmoil doctors.

    The association expressed their concern at their Sixth Annual General Meeting (AGM) and scientific conference yesterday.

    In a communique issued at the end of the conference in Jos noted that cases of unqualified and improperly registered physicians practising as radiation/clinical oncologists were becoming worrisome to the association.

    The association called on relevant authorities, including MDCN,NMA and ARCON, to proactively address the issue of unqualified and improperly registered physicians practising as radiation/clinical oncologists.

    The association appealed to the government along with other stakeholders to expand the National Health Scheme coverage for oncological patients in line with Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate’s dedication to implement the Nigeria Health Act.

    It stated: “We resolved to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to draft a policy brief containing recommendations for improving healthcare financing and ensuring equitable access to oncology services.

    Read Also: Afenifere hails tribunal ruling on Atiku, Obi petitions

    “The AGM encouraged members to actively participate in meetings and conferences to enhance the association’s visibility and influence.’’

    “The AGM encouraged members to involve in cross professional collaborations globally to achieve professional growth and address health sector challenges.

    “The AGM urged stakeholders involved in employing resident doctors to create simple and easy employment strategies for radiation and clinical oncology resident doctors to address the shortage of resident doctors in training.

    “The AGM charged the authority involved in residency training to always make necessary information available to the resident doctors regarding their exams and practice”

    High point of the annual conference was the election of Dr.Nwamaka Lesebikan as the new  president of the association.

    Other elected members of the executive are Dr.Adebayo Afolabi Oladeji as Vice President; Dr. Ololade Kehinde as General Secretary; Dr.Bolaji Lateef Salako as Assistant General Secretary; Dr. Samuel Kwis as Public Relations Officer; while Dr. Bolanle Adegboyega emerged as Treasurer, and Dr.Foluke Oladele Sarimiye as Financial Secretary, Dr.Temitope Agunbiade as Welfare Secretary and Dr.Temitope Agunbiade as Editor-in-Chief .

  • ARCON advises OAU on architecture

    THE Architects’Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has urged the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife to boost the study of Architecture.

    Its President,  Oladipo Ajayi,  spoke during a meeting with the management of the OAU.

    Ajayi, who led council members of ARCON, including, immediate past president, Umaru Aliu; registrar, Umar Murnai, observed that the profession was at its low ebb and, therefore, there was the need for urgent intervention.

    The ARCON chief, who assured the OAU management of its support on the development of enterpreneurship studies, asked that the university authorities should include the council in its budget.

    He said OAU should upgrade the department of architecture to faculty status. “We are eager to have the faculty as soon as possible, as this would further enhance both the university and the profession at large,” he said.

    According to Ajayi, ARCON, among other things, which was established to raise the educational standard and the practice as well as registering and deregistering, urged OAU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede, to look into the issues of shortfall of lecturers in the department.

    Read Also: Bola Ige’s son, 44 others make ARCON’s board

    Ajayi said there was the need for OAU to adopt Architects Projects Registrations Number (APRN), which would help to monitor all building projects, thereby preventing collapsed building.

    The ARCON president also tasked the university on the issue of jury,  noting that it has been misunderstood by many. He urged  Ogunbodede to facilitate the process of ensuring this initiative.

    The VC, who pledged support for ARCON council, said the issue of upgrading the departure of architecture to faculty was actually dependent on the regulatory body, the lecturers within the department and the National Universities Commission (NUC).

    Ogunbodede urged ARCON to assist as the university was  overhauling its curriculum.  He charged ARCON to help the university to develop enterpreneural studies.

    Prof. Olubola Babalola, Dean, Faculty of Environmental Design and Management, promised to look into all issues raised by ARCON.

    Babalola, the first woman professor of Quantity Surveying in Africa, expressed satisfaction with the proposal to raise the department of architecture to a faculty.

    Meanwhile, ARCON is set to induct over 400 newly registered architects in Abuja.

  • ARCON re-accredits Caleb varsity programmes

    Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has given full accreditation to the B.Sc. and M.Sc. Architecture programmes of Caleb University.

    A letter signed by ARCON Registrar, Umar Murnai, and made available to The Nation recounted an earlier visit by ARCON team last November, which finding resulted in giving the twin programmes a clean bill.

    The letter read: “The council took cognisance of the fact that the department has a good staff/students’ ratio, and a staff quality/students’ coefficient in line with the minimum acceptable standard.

    “The university also has substantial improvement in physical infrastructures, facilities and equipment; and, therefore, re-accredited the Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) and Master of Science (M.Sc) programmes in Architecture of the Department of Architecture, Caleb University, Imota, Lagos State.”

    Earlier, the National Universities Commission (NUC) gave full accreditation to the Architecture programmes.

  • Four architects lose suit to dissolve ARCON

    Four members of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) have failed to get court’s order to dissolve the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON).

    The suit, instituted by Tonye Braide, Abimbola Ajayi, David Majekodunmi and Dike Emmanuel against ARCON, sought, among others, a legal pronouncement that ARCON had  been dissolved.

    The court, however, ruled otherwise, noting that the case lacked merit. The presiding judge, Justice Hadiza Shagari, of a Federal High Court, Lagos, consequently the dismissed case.

    The plaintiffs, Braide is NIA immediate past president; Ajayi (General Secretary); Majekodunmi, (Chairman, Students Affairs Committee) and Emmanuel, (Chairman, International Affairs Committee) in the last executive of the professional group.

    Trouble started when they challenged ARCON over the conduct of professional exams. While ARCON said it directed the NIA not to conduct professional exams, the NIA turned down the directive, and  held the exam. To assert its regulatory authority, ARCON, citing some ‘inadequacies’ in the process leading to the conduct of the examination, declined to register those adjudged to have passed the controversial examination.

    However, the plaintiffs claimed that trouble started between the former NIA executive members and the regulators in 2015, following the latter’s decision to conduct exams on professional practice for architects who wanted to register with ARCON – a position NIA frowned at, maintaining that such action ran contrary to the Act establishing ARCON.

    The four, armed with an alleged circular dated July 16, 2015, from the Office of the Secretary to the Federal Government, which purportedly dissolved ARCON, went to court challenging the position of the regulator.

    Justice Shagari, after reviewing the submissions of counsel, held that the plaintiffs did not show or present to the court sufficient evidence that the contested circular of the Federal Government affected ARCON in its statutory functions in any way.

    “A careful examination of the said circular does not capture ARCON and therefore, it is without doubt to say that the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs in this application did not succeed on the grounds that the defendants according to part C of Companies and Allied Matter Act 2004 (CAMA) are professionals, which regulate the affairs of all its registered members,” the judge ruled, adding that if the circular of July 16, 2015, did not affect the defendants, then, any action taken by ARCON couldn’t be seen as ultra vires or void.

    “I, therefore, uphold the submission of the defendants’ counsel and hold that the Federal Government of Nigeria circular dated 16th July 2015 did not dissolve the defendants, as they are not appointed by the government of Nigeria. This originating summons is dismissed for lack of merit,” Justice Shagari ruled.

    NIA President, Adibe Njoku, said  the plaintiffs in the case went to court in their capacity and not on behalf of the NIA.

    This, Njoku explained, meant that the NIA had nothing to do with the suit, as there was no time the Council of the NIA okayed the siut against ARCON.

  • Ondo chief dies

    Ondo chief dies

    The Orunto of Ondo, Chief Ebun Faturoti, is dead. He died on Saturday. He was 76.

    A statement by the family said: “He was a trendsetter in the architecture profession in Nigeria, having pioneered outstanding designs all over the nation. He was the vice president of the Architect Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON) for about 10 years.

    “At the national level, he was the chairman, Governing Council of the National Institute of Sports (NIS).”

    He will be buried on February 14 in Ondo, after a funeral service at the All Saints Church,Ogbonkowo, Ondo.

    He is survived by children and grandchildren.