ARCON DG Receives NIPR Fellowship Award for Promoting Industry Synergy
Oru Leonard
The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), has conferred an honorary fellowship on Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, Director-General of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON). The award recognizes Dr. Fadolapo’s contributions to the growth and improvement of the industry.
Dr. Fadolapo was awarded the fellowship alongside two other distinguished individuals: Ahmed Abubakar Audi and Tim Akano.
The award signifies the synergy between the advertising and public relations sectors in promoting the growth of the marketing communication industry.
Dr. Fadolapo highlighted the importance of a united front within the marketing communication industry, citing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between ARCON, NIPR, and the National Institute of Marketing Nigeria (NIMN).
The MoU aims to facilitate collaboration and smoother transitions for public relations practitioners into the advertising industry, reducing bureaucracy and improving workflow. Dr. Fadolapo emphasized that the curricula for both fields are closely related within the marketing communication industry.
“For me, personally, this honour signifies that other industries and key stakeholders appreciate my contributions to the growth and improvement of the industry,” Dr. Fadolapo said. “It demonstrates their belief in the reforms ARCON is championing and shows that we are providing effective leadership to the advertising industry.
“This induction is an endorsement, a collaboration, and an alignment with other sectoral groups, and it affirms that we are on the right path,” Dr. Fadolapo stated.
Dr. Fadolapo attended Ogun State University, where he earned his first degree in Economics. He further obtained three master’s degrees: a Master of Science in Marketing (MSc.), a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA), and a Master’s in Legal Studies (MILS) from Babcock University, Illisan, Ogun State; the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State; and Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos, respectively.
He holds a PhD in Marketing with a specialization in Marketing Communications from Babcock University, Illisan-Remo, Ogun State. Dr. Fadolapo is a Fellow of the Advertising Profession, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), and the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN). He has been actively involved in the industry, serving as a member of the immediate past Governing Council of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) and as a member of the Executive Committee of the Heads of Advertising Sectoral Groups (HASG). Additionally, he has served as Secretary to various advertising industry organizations and bodies.
Following the recent reform of the advertising regulatory sector, the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) was renamed the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON). Dr. Fadolapo was appointed as the first Director-General of ARCON by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Prior to this, he was the fourth (4th) substantive Registrar/Chief Executive of APCON, appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, in August 2020. Under his leadership, ARCON continues to advance the regulation and growth of the advertising industry in Nigeria. He is a recipient of numerous awards and has facilitated many seminars, conferences, and symposiums.
