The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria, ARCON has expanded the scope of its 2026 Special Recognition Awards to celebrate individuals, organisations and institutions whose contributions have strengthened Nigeria’s advertising and marketing communications industry.
The awards, initially conceived as a platform for recognising advertising compliance, have been broadened to cover a wider range of contributions to the growth, professionalism and development of the sector.
Speaking at a press conference to unveil the awards, the Director-General of ARCON, Olalekan Fadolapo said the expansion became necessary in response to the changing dynamics of the advertising ecosystem and the need to recognise contributions that extend beyond regulatory compliance.
He said recognition could give visibility to outstanding achievements while encouraging other stakeholders to make meaningful contributions to the industry.
The 2026 awards will feature four broad categories: Advertising Compliance, Public Sector Recognition, Private Sector Recognition and Individual Recognition Awards.
Chairman of the Awards Planning Committee, Yinka Adebayo said the Advertising Compliance category would recognise advertisers, brands and practitioners that demonstrate exemplary compliance with advertising standards and responsible advertising practices.
Sixteen sub-categories will be recognised under the compliance awards, with nominees assessed through their advertising submissions and compliance records. The selection process will include independent verification and performance scoring based on factors including submissions and violations recorded. Both advertisers and their agencies will be eligible.
The Public Sector Recognition category will cover areas including grassroots engagement and community organisation, stakeholder engagement for public service delivery, public engagement, public information campaigns, public-sector media and communication, responsible influencer engagement and digital public communication.
The Private Sector Recognition category will recognise achievements in SME engagement and consumer mobilisation, consumer response management, sponsorship marketing, corporate social responsibility, brand invention and innovation, and creative use of culture in communication.
The Individual Recognition Awards will feature the Sectorial Frontrunner Award, Industry Lifetime Contribution Award and Distinguished Service Recognition Award.
According to Adebayo, the individual awards are intended to honour pioneers and professionals who have played significant roles in shaping different segments of Nigeria’s marketing communications industry, while also helping younger practitioners understand the sector’s history and evolution.
Nominations opened on August 31 and will close on September 13, after which nominees will have one week to submit evidence supporting their nominations.
Online voting is scheduled to begin on September 28, followed by a jury session to determine the winners. The main awards ceremony will hold on October 23, 2026, at the Bermuda Convention Centre.
The committee Chairman urged journalists, industry professionals and other stakeholders to nominate deserving individuals and organisations, assuring that all nominees would undergo verification as part of efforts to ensure transparency and credibility.
Meanwhile, representatives of industry associations, including the Experiential Marketers Association of Nigeria (EXMAN) and Media Independent Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MIPAN), commended ARCON for broadening the recognition programme.
They said the initiative could strengthen professionalism, ethical standards, collaboration and excellence across the advertising industry.
Tolaram Group, which has joined the initiative as Platinum Sponsor, also expressed its support for the awards.
Group Media Manager, Tolaram, Adeola Amusun, said the company’s decision to partner with the awards was driven by its commitment to initiatives that promote creativity, professionalism, integrity and excellence in the industry.
According to Amusun, Tolaram is consistently looking for opportunities to support initiatives that advance the industry while creating value for its partners and brands.
He said the company considered the ARCON initiative particularly significant because of its focus on recognising contributions within the industry and supporting the development of professional standards.
Amusun said Tolaram expects the awards to shine a light on people and organisations that have delivered meaningful work but may not always receive public recognition.
“For me, the expectation is really to see people who have done great work being rewarded or awarded,” he said, adding that recognition itself can serve as an important form of encouragement.
He noted that recognition does not necessarily have to be financial, as acknowledging the efforts of individuals and organisations can motivate them to continue contributing to the growth of the industry.
The company said it was proud to support an initiative that celebrates industry leaders, organisations and practitioners whose work has helped shape Nigeria’s advertising and marketing communications landscape.
The planning committee said additional sponsorship opportunities remain available to interested organisations as preparations continue for the 2026 awards.