By Gift Olivia Samuel, The Sight News
ABUJA: The Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON),on Thursday inducted 16 members into the Council.
Speaking at the induction, the Acting Registrar and Chief Executive, APCON, Mrs. IJedi Iyoha, said that professionalism is very important to effectively carry out the practice of Advertising.
Iyoha, who noted that there are penalties for practitioners who go against the tenets of the Code of Advertising Practice, added that the Council can withdraw the licenses of defaulters.
She urged the inductees to try as much as possible not to bring ridicule to the profession. “Do things within the Code, don’t put monetary benefits above ethics”.
Earlier, the Deputy. Director, Registration, Career Matters and Corporate Licencing, Mr. Joe Onuora, stressed that Advertising in Nigeria is a profession governed by law and practitioners must be professionals that have either obtained the educational qualification or professional diploma in Advertising.
According to him, “The ceremony is inaugurating you into the profession and you are required to familiarize yourself with the Code of Advertising, to ensure that Advertisements are vetted.
“As you join the profession, ensure that any advertisement you are part of creating, receives clearance to avoid sanctions. From today, you are obliged to pay your practice fee to be listed in the practitioners’ register,” he remarked.
He also emphasized that as practitioners, they are ambassadors and are expected to proudly represent the Advertising profession,so as to be able to stand at par with members of the other professions.
“Please do this and help us build the Advertising profession going forward. Your Oath of Practice is a commitment to practice Advertising professionally. Please be faithful to the oath you are about to swear,” he stressed.
Speaking to The Sight News, one of the inductees who upgraded his membership, Mr. Oru Leonard, expressed joy that he had finally been upgraded after nine years.
He stated that APCON is a great team and being a member has a lot of advantages. “I am looking forward, through special records to become a Fellow before the 10 years mark,” he enthused.
