……Flags Misleading Adverts Featuring Pastor Adeboye, Seun Okinbaloye, Nigeria Customs
The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has called on all stakeholders and the advertising community to recommit to the principles of truthful, legal, decent and responsible advertising.
In a recent press statement, the Director General of ARCON, Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo said that this became necessary as the Council continues to work towards building a more ethical and consumer -protective advertising environment in Nigeria.
He added that the time of false and misleading advertising, advertisement and marketing communication is over.
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Pointing out the fake and unethical advertisements on Facebook (owned by Meta Inc.), Dr Fadolapo informed the general public that image and voice of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) , Pastor Enoch Adeboye’s advertisement of cure prostatitis (prostate cancer) for Dr. Zayo Mokoema; image of voice of Mr. seun Okinbaloye of Channels Television’s advertisment of erectile dysfunction for Prof. Kingsley Ekwueme and the Nigeria Custom Service impounded cars and bags of rice with solitattion for auction patronage from the general public are all fake.
Dr. Fadolapo explained further that preliminary investigation shows that both Pastor Adeboye and Mr. Okinbaloye’s advertisement are computer/AI generated.
“The images and voices were used with the intention to mislead the public while the Nigerian Custom Services’ advertisement is a scam with the intention to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians”, he said.
The DG added that those mentioned advertisements and other similar advertisements have been monitored on Facebook and Instagram platforms owned by Meta Inc.
He explained that ARCON will take necessary steps including legal actions to sanction platform owners, advertisers and advertisement agencies that engage in the exposure of unethical advertisements.
Dr. Fadolapo also said a special monitoring and enforcement task force has been mandated to track advertisements across all platforms, swiftly identify and flag non-compliant advertisements.
“We urge the public to also support the initiative by reporting advertisement which appears deceptive, unethical, illegal and or those with unrealistic claims or promises.
BV.
