With the conviction that the Nigerian consumers are the ultimate beneficiaries of a friendlier business climate, the Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN) has called on all stakeholders, government agencies, regulators, and especially the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu as Chief Executive of the state commanding about 50% of the country’s total advertising spend, to a jaw-jaw session to further improve on the dynamics of “ease of doing business” in the interest of all stakeholder and the ultimate consumers.

The theme for the event scheduled to take place on June 22nd, 2022 at Radisson Blue Hotel GRA Ikeja is: “The role of government regulations in the ease of doing business”. ADVAN is organising the business dialogue session to discuss especially the role of regulators in the ease of doing business in the country.

Speaking to the media on the forthcoming all-important dialogue session, ADVAN President, Osamede Uwubanmwen disclosed that the keynote paper will be delivered by the Special Adviser to the President on Ease of Doing Business, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole.

“The dialogue will be an avenue to bring together stakeholders to discuss the way forward on how to move the economy forward, stressing that, the idea is that you have industry regulators in the same room with people they regulate, the platform will provide opportunities for critical questions on burning industry issues, how to improve and make things better and with a view moving the industry forward”, he said.

On the Association’s list of top invitees are the Lagos State Governor, Lagos State Commissioner for Trade and Industry, Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (ASAA), Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), NAFDAF, APCON, Heads of Sectoral Groups (HASGs) among others.

“When regulators come up with policies, they need feedback on how regulations are affecting the industry, and we believe that’s what dialogue is all about, it’s something we have done over the years and the essence is to ensure we have sanity in the system”, the president noted, adding that “we are of the belief that regulations should help businesses to succeed and grow when these happen, revenue grows, the economy grows and everybody will be happy”.

ADVAN is the umbrella body of all leading advertisers in the country cutting across Telecoms, pharmaceuticals, FMCG, manufacturing, and hospitality among numerous others.

As usual with the association, the President disclosed that the dialogue session will be followed by a communique or white paper on the submissions for onward submission to relevant departments and agencies to serve as needed contributions to the continuous improvement on the issues affecting ease of doing business in the country.

While giving a vote of thanks at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of ADVAN, Mrs Ediri Ose-Ediale while corroborating the President noted in her closing remarks that the Dialogue seeks to provide a meeting point for critical stakeholders in the Marketing Communications Industry and the various regulatory institutions, to proffer global best practice solutions on effective regulations for economic growth and development.

Also on the President’s team for the media briefing are Kenneth Iruonagbe-Publicity Director, ADVAN; Seni Ogunkola-Executive Council Member of ADVAN; and Samuel Akinrinmisi- Member Planning Committee, Industry Dialogue.