The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (“ARCON” or “the Council”) recently issued a notice informing advertising practitioners and corporate organisations engaged in advertising, advertisement and marketing communications business in Nigeria that the Council is in the process of issuing a Register of Advertising Practitioners and Advertisement Agencies. This requirement is in accordance with section 22(1)(5) and section 23 respectively of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) Act (the “ARCON Act”) which gives the Council the power to prepare and maintain a register of persons entitled to undertake the business of advertising, advertisement, and marketing communications in Nigeria and to publish such register from time to time.

Who is an Advertising Practitioner?

The ARCON Act defines an advertising practitioner as “a person registered by Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON)^[1] to practice advertisement, advertising and marketing communications in Nigeria”. It further provides for various categories for registration which includes:

Honorary fellows;
Fellows;
Full members;
Associate members; and
Student members;

Registration Process

Registration is to be made through an application to the Director General of the Council in the prescribed form and manner as specified under the ARCON Act. Consequently, only persons and organisations who are entitled to register and have registered under any of the specified categories above, will be listed in the publication. The Regulator indicated that it would publish this Register in March 2024, however, this has not occurred. In a recent follow-up with the regulator, we understand that the register is not quite ready for publication as it is still in the works. Interested persons may take this opportunity to apply for registration.