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 honour recognizes the synergy between the advertising and public relations sectors in promoting the growth of the marketing communication industry.

“For me, personally, this honour 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 said 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.

Also commenting on the award, 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, 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. He is a recipient of numerous awards and has facilitated many seminars, conferences, and symposiums.

Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, OFR, mni, is the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). He is a credible and reliable administrator, who is has taken the management of the Corps to a higher height.

Dr. Audi’s doggedness, dedication and commitment to service, has earned him several Professional merit Awards including the most recent from Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR)

Until his appointment as the Commandant General, Dr. Audi had served as Zonal Commander, NSCDC Zone ‘C’ Headquarters, Bauchi, in charge of North-East States. He is a member and Fellow of prestigious professional bodies notable amongst them are: Member, National Institute (mni), having attended Senior Executive Course 38 in NIPSS, Kuru, Jos, 2016; Fellow, Institute of Security and Forensic Studies, Nigeria.