FG Targets Nigeria as Africa’s Hub for Responsible Advertising, Digital Innovation

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to positioning Nigeria as Africa’s leading hub for responsible advertising, creative excellence and digital innovation. It said it would continue to implement policies that encourage innovation while strengthening ethical regulation and protecting intellectual property across the advertising and digital sectors.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated this while declaring open the fourth edition of the Advertising Industry Colloquium organised by the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) in Ikeja, Lagos. He said the future of Nigeria’s advertising industry would be driven not only by technology but also by quality ideas, strong institutions and responsible leadership.

The minister noted that while Artificial Intelligence and digital platforms are transforming the advertising industry globally, human creativity, ethics and strategic thinking remain essential. He added that the Tinubu administration is implementing reforms aimed at building a competitive digital economy capable of creating jobs, attracting investment and positioning Nigeria as a leading innovation hub in Africa.

Idris also highlighted the Federal Government’s ongoing fibre-optic expansion programme, saying it would improve broadband penetration, reduce connectivity costs and expand high-speed internet access to underserved communities.

According to him, the initiative will create more opportunities for digital advertising, e-commerce and other innovation-driven businesses.The Director-General of ARCON, Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, called for stronger collaboration among regulators, industry players, academia and digital platforms to shape the future of advertising in Nigeria.

He stressed that responsible innovation, professional excellence and effective regulation are key to building a resilient, consumer-focused and globally competitive advertising industry.