Contrary to expectations and nay-sayers, the Director-General/CEO of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo has been given a clean bill of health to continue his revolutionary developmental works at the council as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announces a new set of appointments within the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation.
In a statement signed and released to the media by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale on Thursday, out of the eight principal positions announced, only Dr. Fadolapo and Salihu Dembas, DG, Nigerian Television Authority, NTA got the President’s vote of confidence and retained their positions.
Dr. Fadolapo’s re-appointment is coming on the heels of the clamour and clandestine moves by some disgruntled industry players to invoke the spirit of the 2-year tenure style to get the “unpopular” regulator out of the system, especially as his appointment was by the previous government.
The newly appointed distinguished executives include Mr. Lanre Issa-Onilu, designated as the Director-General/CEO of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr. Muhammed Bulama, Director-General/CEO of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN); and Mr. Charles Ebuebu PAY, the newly appointed Director-General/CEO of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC),
Other appointments within the ambit of information and national orientation are Mr. Jibrin Baba Ndace, entrusted with the leadership of the Voice of Nigeria (VON) as Director-General/CEO; Mr. Ali Muhammed Ali, leads as the Managing Director/CEO at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN); and Mr. Dili Ezughah, becomes the Executive Secretary/CEO of the Nigerian Press Council (NPC).
Fadolapo, Ph.D. is a Chartered Accountant and a distinguished fellow of the advertising profession with decades of experience.
Appointed Director General by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2020, he initiated the name change of the regulatory body from Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria, APCON to the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria ARCON, as well as the introduction of a new ARCON.
Since being on the saddle of leadership, Dr. Fadolapo has championed several reforms aimed at berthing a new dispensation of ethical advertising, fairness while eliminating practices that stifle the practice and general economic growth.
His reappointment is a testament to his impressive record and outstanding success in revolutionizing the advertising industry.
Some of the “unpopular” regulations that pitched some players and sectoral bodies against the DG include, the ban on foreign models, foreign agencies, stringent ad approvals, and expanded purview or banner control over anything that is marketing or marketing-related issues.
