APCON boss: Will merit, experience sway Maku’s decision?
While the advertising industry waits for the next chairman of Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), industry operators have called on Labaran Maku, minister of Information, to allow merit, professionalism and experience guide his decision in the appointment of the candidate for President Goodluck Jonathan’s ratification.
Industry experts, who commended the performance of Lolu Akinwunmi, the outgoing chairman, said most senior and experienced candidates who have contributed to the development of the industry should inform the minister’s choice in selecting a candidate from the list submitted to him by the APCON council.
“It is basically merit, professionalism and experience beyond any other consideration in running the council”, Kelechi Nwosu, the CEO of TBWA said.
According to him, the current chairman has done well because he is a professional. “We need to have a thorough-bred professional running APCON”, he said.
Asked what else should inform the minister’s choice since all the nominated candidates are professionals, Nwosu said there must be a ranking and experience. “It must be somebody who has a vision of where the industry should be. The industry needs to grow and we have not grown as much as we ought to and as the economy grows, the advertising industry must grow with it”, he said.
Yinka Adepoju, the director general of Oyo State Signage and Advertising Agency, said there were standards to the appointment of the APCON chairmanship.
“Lolu has done well and any person who becomes the chairman of APCON should be a candidate who will advance the course of advertising. Maku should look at pedigree and who has experience in running the council.
The industry is expecting somebody who will be able to move it forward and add value”, he said.
Adepoju, who served in the executive of Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN) was confident that senior colleagues are in the council and capable of leading the advertising apex body.
In his view, Chris Doghudje, the past chairman of APCON, said the Act spells out who should be APCON chairman. He should be a distinguished advertising practitioner. That is why the council has recommended those who have served in various associations such as Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN), Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN) or Advertising Agencies of Nigeria
(ADVAN). Other considerations are those who have contributed to the growth of advertising in Nigeria.
Among the list submitted, Funmi Onabulo, the CEO of Bates and Cosse had led AAAN as chairman; Willy Nnorom is one of the oldest serving members in the council and has served APCON and AAAN in various capacities including chairman of APCON Committee on Advertising Practice Reforms (ACAPR); Udeme Ofot is the CEO of Saatchi and Saatchi and has done well for the industry, Ade Akinde is the chairman of Advertising Standard Panel of APCON and Babu Akinbobola is another candidate who has equally contributed to the growth of the industry.
By: Daniel Obi