….. As Practitioners Optimistic Conference Will Impact Sector
The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has announced November 12 to 14 for the 2025 National Advertising Conference.
Speaking at a press conference in Lagos on Friday, Chairman Planning Committee for the 2025 NAC conference, Mr. Tunji Adeyinka said Marketing Communications professionals and scholars from the various sectors and specializations of the industry will converge to share ideas, knowledge and perspectives on trends and challenges that shape the profession and business of marketing communications across the world.
“They will also proffer solutions and point the way to a healthy growth of the industry to the benefit of all stakeholders,” he said.
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He added that the Conference over the years has tried not to be a talk shop, “so, apart from being a top leadership platform, we also try to be an advocacy platform where we seek to deal with critical industry issues that spring from the discussions at the conference.
“I will like to publicly acknowledge and thank the regulator who is the key backbone behind this because they have been very open and very open in terms of the kind of contributions that we have as a conference,” he added.
He explained further that PwC report two years ago shows clearly that communication today is a catalyst for economic growth, stating that the report indicated that for every one naira spent on marketing communication generates N16.5 in GDP. “It shows that the industry is very important and very critical to the economy. This industry is a catalyst and therefore whatever we do as a conference is to look at having discussions around that role.”
Speaking on the reason for the theme: ‘Marketing Communications: Transforming Businesses & Creating Growth in Challenging Times’, Adeyinka said NAC is very important for professionals and practitioners hence the need to think about the context of the industry as a catalyst.
“I am sure that you and I do not need to talk too much about challenging times, you know what it means; from ‘macro’ point of view, we have indicators that show that the economy is stabilizing, it is also growing and we also know that in terms of transmission, which is transmitting this growth through consumers, that is not happening yet and that is why growth is a very critical precaution and we made this conference 2025 all about it,” he explained.
He said that the three-day conference will kick off with the Fireside Chat entitled: ‘A Different Generation, a Different Industry’ on the 12th of November with the trio of Dr. Bolajoko Bayo-Ajayi (President, NIMN), Maryam Amuda (Aster Integrated Marketing) and Mr. Bello Yusuf (3-IPOD).
“The opening ceremony on the 13th of November, will have Mr. Olusegun Zacchaeus, Partner & West Africa Lead, Strategy, PwC speak on the topic: Economic Outlook: Is there any sign of growth.
“The panel discussions also on the 13th November will have speakers like Tayo Oyedeji (CEO, Publicis Groupe Nigeria), Cherry Eromosele, Interswitch Group, Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka (CMO, MTN), Jacques Burger, Group CEO, Up&Up South Africa, among others.
On final day, he said there will be four breakout sessions with discussions on topics like: Converging for Growth: Product Integration Strategies in the Evolving Landscape; The Role of Marketing Communications in SME Growth and Survival in Nigeria; Marketing Communications and Sustainable Development: Creating Shared Value in Tough Times and OOH Advertising as an Enabler of Business Growth in a Downturn, among others.
“Speakers for the breakout sessions will include Mr. Lanre Adisa, President of AAAN, Mrs. Saidat Lawal-Mohammed, Head of Executive Education Africa at China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) and Mr. Sola Akinsiku, President of Out-of-Home Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN).
He urged practitioners across all sectors to be part of the conference by registering on time to key into packages made available by the planning committee.
In his remarks, the DG ARCON), Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo reaffirmed the importance of the conference to the development of the advertising sector, adding that it has become a major event in the calendar of activities of all practitioners.
He stated further that the discussions at the conference will help shape not only the advertising sector, but policies that will help develop the economy.
“Because of the huge and diverse offerings of the conference, it promises to be the largest gathering of marketing communications and allied professionals in Africa,” he added.
Chairman, Heads of Advertising Sectorial Group (HASG) and President of AAAN, Mr. Lanre Adisa in his remarks assured the NAC planning committee of all sectorial bodies support for the conference.
He commended ARCON for sustaining NAC stating that the conference is not a workshop but helps to formulate policies that will improve the industry.
Speaking on collaborations and partnerships within the industry, the HASG Chairman said the sector has over years continue to develop alongside new developments in the sector especially in the area of technology which has helped to shape the sector.
The Conference was initiated and debuted in 2019 and has over the years improved with this year’s edition fully package with discussions to improve the industry.
Dignitaries from government, public and private sector organisations, practitioners and clients from across Nigeria and parts of the world are expected to grace the conference as speakers, special guests and participants.
Presidents of Sectorial Groups present at the event include Media Independent Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MIPAN) Mr. Dozie Okafor; President, OAAN, Mr. Akinsiku; Experiential Marketers Association of Nigeria (EXMAN), Mrs. Tolulope Medebem and Representative of Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), Dr. Gregory Odutayo and were all optimistic that the conference will again address issues affecting the industry and prepare priority for the next line of action for the advertising sector.
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