The Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN) has expressed concern over its exclusion from the Town Hall Meeting jointly organised by the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Lawyers in the Media Forum (NBA-LIM).
The event, scheduled to hold today, Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at the Sheba Events Centre, Ikeja, Lagos, is themed “The Nigerian Advertising Law: The Role of the Advertising Offences Tribunal (AOT).”
The Town Hall is expected to feature key legal and regulatory stakeholders, including Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, Director General of ARCON, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Barrister Charles Odenigbo, Director General of the Centre for Media Law and Development and Mr. Lanre Adisa, Chairman of the Heads of Advertising Sectoral Groups (HASG).
In an official statement, ADVAN clarified that neither the association nor its members received an invitation to participate in or attend the program.
“As a principal stakeholder in Nigeria’s marketing and communications ecosystem representing the collective interests of advertisers, including corporate organisations, multinationals and SMEs, ADVAN considers this exclusion unfortunate,” the statement read.
“Given the stated purpose of the event to deepen awareness of Nigeria’s advertising regulatory framework and promote stakeholder engagement, the absence of advertisers’ representation undermines the goal of fostering balanced and inclusive dialogue on the implementation of advertising laws and the functions of the Advertising Offences Tribunal.”
The association emphasised that while it acknowledges the importance of such engagements in advancing understanding of the legal and regulatory environment governing advertising in Nigeria, sustainable progress can only be achieved through collaboration, inclusion and mutual respect among all relevant stakeholders.
“ADVAN remains committed to constructive engagement with regulatory authorities and industry partners to ensure that advertising regulation in Nigeria continues to evolve in a fair, transparent and equitable manner,” the statement concluded.
