AAAN petitions government on re-constitution of APCON council, national orientation
Nigeria’s creative advertising body, Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria; AAAN has taken its petition on the urgent need for the reconstitution of APCON council to Abuja.
The executive members of the body held a crucial discussion with the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo last week where they tabled challenges confronting the industry and subsequently proffered a number of solutions that would see to the growth of the Nigeria’s N170 billion advertising industry.
The exco members led by the president of the association, Kayode Oluwasona had directly told Osinbajo that non constitution of APCON council is militating against the growth of the industry.
“The Governing Council of APCON is one of those dissolved by the Federal Government about a year ago. When APCON doesn’t have a council, our industry gets over exposed, and the achievement of decent, responsible and progressive advertising, which the council is set up to enforce suffers”.
Oluwasona recalled that the Council that was dissolved was in existence for only four months, as against a standard tenure of three years stipulated in the APCON Laws. Prior to the constitution of the council, APCON had been without a council for almost two years, and that was the period during which the regrettably unwholesome political campaigns of last year fettered.
AAAN leadership had earlier warned that the non reconstitution of APCON council after it was dissolved by the present government on the understanding that it is a parastatal of the government is stalling further plans for the growth of the marketing communication industry.
As it was trying to settle down, the council led by Udeme Ufot, the managing director of SO & U was dissolved five months after it was constituted on March 26 last year. Prior to Udeme appointment APCON operated without a proper council for about 18 months.
The association also recommended that Government urgently reviews its current Communication architecture to allow for professionalism and better standards across levels and departments of government. “The objective here is to upgrade the quality of the work of communication handlers inside Government and also that of their external partners”, he said.
AAAN president noted that while advertising laws and regulations allow for only APCON (Advertising Practitioner’s Council of Nigeria) licensed organizations to practice advertising in the country that even Government patronizes unlicensed agencies, which operate under different fictitious titles.
While urging government to uphold the APCON laws and regulations in the execution of its communication projects, the association suggested that government works with only APCON-licensed marketing communication experts in the Organized Private Sector to ensure that Government communications are standardized and made more effective.
“The level of sophistication required in Government-People Communication today demands a ‘tight’ Public-Private Sector collaboration, based on professionalism, Integrity and Accountability”.
Looking at the nation, the association also advocated national re-orientation. “That our dear nation is currently going through major socio-economic challenges is no longer news. As communication experts, we have found a compelling need for an urgent national re-orientation. The current state of apathy, despondency and disconnect between the citizenry and the government needs to be addressed.
“We therefore suggest a re-orientation project that will genuinely build civic pride and get Nigerians to believe in Nigeria and her assets, again. We desire to see Nigerians begin to appreciate and support made-in-Nigeria products and brands. Towards achieving this, we at AAAN gladly offer to develop and produce ‘Nigerian Pride’ and ‘Unity’ campaigns at no cost to government”, he promised.
In his response, the Vice President promised to look in to the issues raised by the association.
Daniel Obi