In a concerted effort to advance the practice and knowledge of advertising in Nigeria, the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) is set to host the second edition of its Industry Colloquium tomorrow. The event, which promises to be a landmark gathering for the advertising industry, will feature an impressive lineup of esteemed professionals and academics.
The Advertising Industry Colloquium (AIC) will take place at the Sheba Events Centre in Ikeja, Lagos. Themed “Harnessing Emerging Technologies for Sustainable Advertising Education and Professional Excellence in Nigeria,” the colloquium aims to explore how emerging technologies can be leveraged to enhance educational and professional standards in advertising.
The colloquium will be officially opened by Alhaji Mohammed Idris, Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation and with a keynote address by Dr. Bayo Adekanmbi, the Founder of Data Science Nigeria. Dr. Adekanmbi is renowned for his contributions to data science and technology in Africa, making him a fitting speaker to discuss the integration of technology in advertising.
Other speakers include Prof. Abigail N. Ogwezzi, Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos, Eng. Dozie Mbanefo, Managing Director, New Crystal Communications, Mr. Kelechi Nwosu, Managing Director, TBWA/Concept, Tunji Adeyinka, Group Managing Director, Republicom Group, John Ugbe, CEO, MultiChoice, Mr. Yinka Adebayo, Head of Procurement, Omnicom Media Group, West and Central Africa.
Under the leadership of Dr. Lekan Fadolapo, Director-General of ARCON, the council aims to bridge the gap between academic research and professional practice in marketing communications. This initiative includes the annual colloquium and the publication of an academic journal to foster continuous professional development and knowledge exchange.
The colloquium will also feature a creative advertising pitch competition involving eight tertiary institutions from across Nigeria namely University of Ilorin, Covenant University, Federal University of Kashere, Nile University, Abuja, Ebonyi State University, Rivers State University, Kano State Polytechnic and Lagos State University.
These institutions were selected following a rigorous pre-event pitch competition. In addition, there will be a job fair aimed at connecting students and graduates with potential employers in the advertising industry.
A significant highlight of the event will be the public presentation of the maiden edition of the ARCON Journal of Advertising and Marketing Communications (AJAMC). The journal aims to advance both academic scholarship and professional practices within the field.
