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ARCON DG, Fadolapo Gets NIPR Honorary Fellowship Award

The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has conferred an honorary fellowship on the Director-General of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo.

 

He was awarded the fellowship alongside two other distinguished individuals, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and Tim Akano, MD/CEO of New Horizon Nigeria, during Nigeria Public Relations Week (NPRW) 2025 held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.

 

Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Fadolapo stated that the honor recognizes the synergy between the advertising and public relations sectors in promoting the growth of the marketing communication industry.

 

“For me, personally, this honor 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.”

 

He highlighted the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between ARCON, the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), and the National Institute of Marketing Nigeria (NIMN), emphasizing the importance of a united front within the marketing communication 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 noted.

 

He further emphasized that ARCON and other sectoral groups are integral parts of the marketing communication ecosystem, with both public relations and advertising playing critical roles in communication strategy. The MoU, he explained, will facilitate collaboration and smoother transitions for public relations practitioners into the advertising industry, reducing bureaucracy and improving workflow.

 

“The curricula for both fields are closely related within the marketing communication industry. This collaboration will ensure greater synergy and smoother operations.”

 

The honorary fellowship underscores the increasing recognition of the interconnectedness between public relations and advertising, as well as the importance of regulatory bodies and industry stakeholders working together to promote excellence in the industry.

 

On his part, Tim Akano, MD/CEO of New Horizon Nigeria, expressed his gratitude for the honorary fellowship. He noted that, although he has received several awards in the past, the NIPR recognition is particularly meaningful due to the institute’s reputation as one of the most respected institutions in Nigeria and Africa.

 

“The fact that NIPR considered me alongside two other esteemed individuals for this award means a great deal to me,” Akano said.

 

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.

NGX Confirms No Insider Trading was Done By MD/CEO Of Fidelity Bank PLC

The Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) has affirmed that the recent purchase of 18 million units of Fidelity Bank shares by its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, was conducted in full compliance with applicable regulations.

In a letter dated May 22, 2025, the regulator dismissed allegations of insider trading and the misuse of bank funds for the transaction stating “….Following the filing of the Bank’s 2025 Q1 UFS on 30 April 2025, the Directors and other insiders of the Bank became eligible to trade on the securities of the Bank after twenty-four (24) hours.

Therefore, the share purchase transaction referenced by Sahara Reporters which occurred on 19 May 2025 was transacted during an open trading window and NGX RegCo is not aware of any other price sensitive information that the Bank is required to disclose which should hinder trades on the securities of the Bank by insiders.”

 

Fidelity Bank has subsequently issued a statement addressing the accusations, categorizing them as false, misleading, and maliciously intended to tarnish the reputation of both the bank and its MD/CEO, as well as to mislead the investment community and the general public.

Signed by the bank’s Divisional Head of Brand and Communications, Dr Meksley Nwagboh, the statement clarified that Fidelity Bank was compelled to respond to the erroneous article published on May 21, 2025.

“As a publicly quoted company regulated by the NGX and subject to the Listing Rules of the NGX and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulations, we unequivocally confirm that neither the Bank nor its MD/CEO has ever engaged in insider trading.”

Dr Nwagboh further emphasized that the MD/CEO personally funded the share purchase and did not utilize bank funds or take a loan for the transaction.

The statement reaffirmed that the transaction was conducted in strict adherence to the Listing Rules and insider trading regulations governing publicly traded companies.

Shell Nigeria Gas Engages Stakeholders On Deepening Gas Distribution

L-R: Manager, Strategy and Sustainability, NNPC Gas Marketing Limited (NGML) Daniel Aso; Team Lead on Gas, Office of The Special Adviser to The President on Energy, Lateef Biobaku; Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo); Ronald Adams; General Manager, Shell Energy Nigeria (SEN), Markus Hector ; Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG) Ralph Gbobo and Joseph Musa, Director Gas at The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) at Shell Nigeria Gas customers Forum that held in Lagos

 

Nigeria’s premier gas distribution company, Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG) last week engaged more than 100 gas off takers in the Agbara Ota industrial zone in Ogun State on ways of consolidating the gains from the supply of gas to the businesses. Set up in 1998 as a fully Shell-owned company, SNG currently operates in Abia, Rivers and Ogun states providing gas to customers through distribution pipelines of approximately 150km.

 

SNG interacted with the off takers in customers’ fora to receive feedback and explore ways of improving gas supply. The theme of the customer’s forum at Agbara Ota was “The Natural Gas Partner of Choice, Powering Nigeria,” and it was also attended by industry partners and officials of the Federal Government, the Ogun State Government and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN).

 

“Our commitment is to build, operate and maintain a gas distribution system that is  not just reliable, but resilient, transparent, and growth-oriented, to support businesses, industries and ambitions,” General Manager, Shell Energy Nigeria Markus Hector said, while welcoming guests. “This session is an opportunity for honest feedback, shared learning, and co-creating a better path forward. Your voice matters and we want to hear it.”

 

The Special Adviser to the President on Energy, represented by the Team Lead, Gas, Lateef Biobaku used the opportunity to share the vision of the government for the oil and gas industry. He said: “Our vision is to unlock Nigeria’s energy potential, to help fuel economic growth, to drive industrialization and help diversify our economy.” The aim is to attract investments to help raise oil and gas production to 4 million barrels per day and 12 billion cubic feet of gas per day by 2030.

 

The Managing Director of the NNPC Gas Marketing Limited, represented by the Manager, Strategy and Sustainability, Dan Aso said: “The future of the Agbara Ota industrial zone is bright, and natural gas will continue to play a pivotal role as Nigeria transitions towards a driven economy.” His remarks were echoed

by several other speakers, among them the Ogun State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Adebola Sofela, the Director General of MAN, Segun Ajayi-Kadir and the Chairman of Ado-Odo Ota Local Government Council, Wasiu Lawal.

 

Participants took part in three panel sessions on “Agbara Ota Industrial zone: present and future possibilities,” “Energy future” and “Nigeria’s oil and gas: Energised, invigorated and reawakened.”

 

SNG Managing Director, Ralph Gbobo reflected on the outcome of the Agbara Ota customer’s forum: “We have noted the comments of our customers and will continue to improve our services to drive the growth already recorded through gas distribution. We’re grateful for the support and cooperation of our partners, communities, customers and the Ogun State Government and look forward to more collaboration for greater strides.”