The three years tenure of the current Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) Chairman, Mr. Lolu Akinwunmi came to a close 27th September, 2013. Usually, the Chairman continues in office until the supervising minister who in this case is Hon. Labaran Maku, Hon. Minister of Information, on behalf of the Federal government appoints and swears in the next Chairman.
According to findings, a couple of names have been forwarded to the Hon. Minister by the high echelon of the council. Usually the Minister after due consultation and further findings picks one of the suggested names who should be a fellow of the profession.
While the process is going on and the industry expects a new council Chairman to take over from Mr. Akinwunmi, findings reveal that unlike the time past, there is a shift in the composition of the names forwarded and being vetted by the ministry.
Prior to Akinwunmi’s tenure, ascension to the position of the Chairman of the council was more or less an unofficial gerontocracy – “leadership by the oldest”. This trend is obvious in Sir I.S. Moemeke and Chief Olu Falomo while the Late May Nzeribe’s tenure brought a slight shift. For instance, I.S is No. 1 on the APCON list while Chief Falomo is No. 2 and the latter succeeded the former in office. Chief Ayo Owoborode is No. 3, according to findings, he was to succeed Chief Falomo by the subsisting arrangement at the time but the position by then was becoming more attractive. More Practitioners in the bracket of past AAPN presidents started jostling for the position with burning desire to break “established protocol”. This robbed Mr. Owoborode of the APCON Chairmanship position. Late May Nzeribe emerged the 3rd Chairman in the midst of the bitter struggle for the position by notables (who- is-who) in the industry. The unwritten arrangement which gives the role to the most senior ex-president of the AAPN as
the progenitor of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) is changing.
The case of Chris Doghudje (Prof) is another exception. He benefitted from the distortion of order that brought in Nzeribe. The “Prof” has repeated on several occasions that he never lobbied for the position. “I just got a call and letter that I have been appointed APCON Chairman”. The noted APCON critic did his term quietly and exited the position. Note also that Chris was never a past president of any of the association. Similarly, the sitting Chairman, had a smooth ride to the office despite other interests and recommendations. He was already popular with and earned the respect of the then Minister of Information, Mrs. Dora Akunyili, who knew what she wanted and with no hassles appointed Mr. Akinwunmi to the office as APCON Chairman.
Were the old order prevailing, the list being currently being vetted should ordinarily have parade names like Ayo Owoborode, Biodun Shobanjo, Steve Omojafor and Kola Ayanwale may be, while Enyi Odigbo Lolu Akinwunmi and others after them will be considered too young ex-Presidents to occupy the office of the APCON Chairman. However, the emergence of the sitting Chairman has put all that on its head! And the industry is not likely to go back to that era, moreso as the industry has witnessed dramatic turnaround in the rules and terms of practice within the last couple of months.
Instead of the office being the sole preserve of the AAAN linage, a lot more interest groups are asking why the position should be an exclusive preserve of AAAN? The Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN) have never hidden their grievances, in the same vein, Media Independent Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MIPAN) will also show interest for the office anytime soon. All sectoral groups are worthy stakeholders in the affairs of the industry.
Kole Ademulegun, Managing Director, Media Link and a past president of OAAN when contacted says he blames no one but the fact that OAAN has never showed enough enthusiasm. Confronted that names of some of OAAN members such as his, Babu Akinbobola and Charles Chijide all past presidents of the OAAN and fellows of the Advertising profession are touted to be on list being considered presently, he denied knowledge of this. “I have not applied and I am not told”, he said, adding that it will be a good thing to give equal opportunities to all sectoral groups though. This goes to strengthen the fact that others in their camp are disenchanted with the perceived AAAN monopoly of the APCON chairmanship seat. However, it goes without saying that apart from AAAN being the force behind APCON, its cheer numerical strength and enormous stake in the industry are indications that the status-quo may not change anytime soon.
Prominent on the list before the Hon. Minister of the Information are some members of the AAAN. These include: Willy Nnorom, CEO of the Enugu based Reads & Mark Advertising. Nnorom, very popular among his colleagues had his credentials boosted recently as the Chairman of the ACAPR committee which worked on the popular 5th Advertising code review. The document which is currently setting the industry on “a fire of revival” is the fulcrum of change in the industry. Although, a fellow of long standing, Nnorom has never been a president of the AAAN but he enjoys the sitting chairman’s support.
Similarly, Ade Akinde, the controversial APCON Advertising Standard Panel (ASP) Chairman – remember the Guinness/APCON debacle? Like Nzeribe who stepped up from ASP Chairman to become APCON Chairman, he wants to reenact same trend. He is said to be on the list gunning for the APCON Chairmanship. Like Nnorom also, Akinde, CEO, Campaign Palace have not had the privilege of the leading his professional sectoral body, AAAN.
Mr. Funmi Onabolu, ex-president AAAN and CEO of Cosse group of agencies stands tall on the list. Onabolu is the immediate past president of the AAAN, Akinwunmi actually handed over the baton of office to him as President. The average opinion in the industry is that as a candidate for the advertising regulatory agency, Onabolu stands a good chance sharing a lot of vision and passion with the sitting Chairman. Like Akinwunmi also, he could be a dogged fighter if he believes in a course. Onabolu belongs to the Akinwunmi’s school of thought style on style of leadership.
This issue reminds one of the yeoman’s jobs being done by Mr. Akinwunmi to protect the local industry in general against external aggression. Although some are wont to say he usurped APCON position to protect his personal business interest, suffice to say it takes one with substantial interest to doubt all consequences and fight for survival of the industry. It is reckoned that Onabolu has substantial vested interest in the industry, he knows where the shoes pinches and could go all out in fighting against any ravaging onslaught especially as the 5th reform already provides the frame work.
The last to be considered in this preview is the sitting President of the AAAN, Mrs. Bunmi Oke, whose name is said to come up on the list of candidates for the position of the APCON Chairman. Though, she is from the Prima Garnet Group, it was gathered that Lolu is not supporting her candidature. Reason is the fear of being seen as “imposing a stooge”. In the time past, a sitting president’s name will not come up as he or she is most likely to be “too young”. However, others interests in the AAAN are putting her forward based on the calculation to explore the female appeal. She could be picked as the first female Chairman of APCON having had over five men back-to-back on the saddle. The minister could easily be swayed and justifiably too, go for a woman this time around especially as women are doing pretty well as heads of some government agencies. This will also break the monotony creating a new dimension. In this regards, Mrs. Oke is eminently qualified as a fellow of the profession, a president and the only
female candidate on the list. Mrs. Bola Thomas, the first female President who could also be considered has relocated abroad. If the ministered is swayed to fall for the “female appeal bait”, it will effortlessly go the way of Mrs. Oke.
In all the calculations above, it is obvious that the APCON hierarchy has a laid out model to see to the smooth implementation of the Akinwunmi’s/Nnorom’s 5th advertising reform. This for once will sort out the continuity conundrum which is always the bane of development even in the larger society. Whichever way it goes, and with Alhaji Garba Bello-Kankarofi as the Registrar/CEO, APCON, the Akinwunmi’s vision for the industry is entrusted in good hands.
