Industry professionals back ASRA, say it will encourage compliance
By Amechi Obiakpu
Advertising industry stakeholders and heads of sectoral groups on Monday threw their weight behind the ARCON Special Recognition Awards (ASTRA) explaining that the concept will encourage industry compliance.
They believe that regulation does not always have to be about awarding fines to ensure compliance but sometimes by rewarding and commending deserving practitioners which will serve as motivation to others.
ASTRA is a new recognition platform set up by the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) to reward and recognise industry practitioners that have demonstrated excellence within the advertising ecosystem.
Speaking in a media briefing held in Ikeja, Lagos, Lanre Adisa, President of AAAN and Chairman, Heads of Advertising Sectoral Group (HASG) underscored the importance of recognition. “One of the things we try to create is visibility for the industry and to achieve that one way is to expand the scope and recognise the people who are at the forefront of doing the industry proud. By so doing others are motivated”.
He noted that the power of motivation cannot be underestimated because of the positive change it has the tendencies to attract.
He however, advised that the initiative should not stop at this maiden stage rather, it should continue.
Aligning with Adisa’s position, Media Independent Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MIPAN) President, Brenda Nwagwu said recognition matters because it encourages excellence which is one of the pillars of MIPAN. “At MIPAN, we remain committed to working with ARCON to move the industry forward with the 2026 ASRA,” she noted.
Commending ARCON for the initiative, the President, Experiential Marketers Association of Nigeria (EXMAN), Tolulope Medebem said people who continue to raise the bar deserve to be recognised.
“At EXMAN, we believe recognition is important for an industry as ours which involve in changes in technology. We commend ARCON for this award initiative and we believe it can only get better for the industry,” she added.
In his presentation, ASRA Chairman, Planning Committee, Yinka Adebayo, enthused that ASRA is an award that will set the standard for the industry.
For him, the event will correct the assumption that ARCON is only about awarding fines to erring agencies rather, it is also interested in recognising and commending industry players that are contributing towards the growth of the advertising ecosystem.
According to the organising committee this year’s ASRA, the maiden edition, will hold on Friday, October 23, 2026 at Balmoral Convention Centre, Ikeja, Lagos, under the theme: “an evening of many honours”.
Voting will be done online.
Entries for nominations opened September 1 and will last for 13 days. This will be followed by submission of evidence by the nominees to justify whether they are deserving of awards, before the actual voting will commence on September 20, 2026.
Winners will be judged from four broad award frameworks, from which they will emerge from various sub-categories. The frameworks are: Advertising Compliance Awards, Public Sector Recognition Awards, Private Sector Recognition Awards and Individual Recognition Awards.
Interested participants can nominate industry stakeholders of their choice via the website: www.astraaward.com, before the opportunity closes.
Responding to the benefit ASRA will proffer, ARCON DG, Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo said it will among other things afford industry players opportunity to learn the history about how the industry transitioned to its present state and some of the people behind the changes.
*Photo shows from (L-R): ARCON’s Director, Emme Akande; Adeola Amosun of Tolaram Group; MIPAN President, Brenda Nwagwu; AAAN President, Lanre Adisa; ARCON DG., Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo; ASRA Chairman, Planning Committee, Yinka Adebayo, ASRA Chairman, Planning Committee; EXMAN President, Tolulope Medebem; and Fabs Fagade, representing the Out-of-home Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (OAAN).
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