By David Torough, Abuja

The Federal Government has inaugurated the newly constituted Advertising Offences Tribunal as part of efforts to strengthen regulation, promote professionalism and ensure greater integrity in Nigeria’s advertising and marketing communications industry.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated this on Tuesday at the inauguration of the Tribunal in Abuja, describing the development as an important step towards building a more professional and responsible advertising industry.

“Let us build an advertising industry that commands creativity, earns trust, and upholds responsibility,” Idris said.

The Minister said the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) Act No. 23 of 2022 expanded the Council’s regulatory powers and provided for the establishment of the Tribunal to adjudicate offences under the Act and relevant advertising regulations and codes.

He urged the new panel, led by Honourable Justice Cecilia M. A. Olatoregun, to carry out its duties with integrity, independence and fairness.

“Every matter that comes before you should be considered on its merits, without fear or favour, affection or ill will. The Tribunal must be, and must be seen to be, a fair and impartial institution,” he said.

The Minister congratulated the Chairman and members of the Tribunal, assuring them of the Ministry’s continued support for ARCON and efforts to build a globally competitive advertising industry.

The Director-General of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), Dr. Olalekan Olumuyiwa Fadolapo, described the inauguration of the Advertising Offences Tribunal as a major step in strengthening regulation and compliance in the advertising industry.

“The Advertising Offences Tribunal is a big opportunity for the Nigerian advertising industry. It is the first of its kind in the world because Nigeria has taken a proactive step not only to legislate on advertising, but also to put structures and frameworks in place,” he said.

The Chairman of the Advertising Offences Tribunal, Honourable Justice Cecilia M. A. Olatoregun, pledged that the new panel would discharge its responsibilities with integrity, fairness and professionalism.

“It is a great honour to be called upon to serve our country, and we take this responsibility very seriously. You have asked us to work with integrity, and that is what we are going to do,” she said.

Members of the Tribunal are Musa Ahmed Attah, SAN; Merga Tyowanan Kachina Esq; Dr. Ken Onyeali Ikpe, frpa; and Hajia Sa’a Ibrahim, rpa.

In attendance was the Permanent Secretary of Information and National Orientation, Dr Binyerem Ukaire; the Director, Public Communication and National Orientation, Henshaw Ogubike; the Director, Public Relations and Protocol, Suleiman Haruna, PhD; the Special Assistant (Admin) to the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Dr Sunday Baba, among other dignitaries.

From Attah Ede, Makurdi

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Nigeria has formally launched applications for journalists in Benue State and six other States to join a two-month project aimed at deepening ethical, solutions-focused coverage of HIV and TB in communities most affected by both diseases.

The aim is to support journalists in those seven states towards producing well researched human- centered, stigma-free stories that can impact HIV testing, treatment uptake and leading to the prevention of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STIs), correct use of condoms and public accountability for HIV/TB service delivery.

The “HIV and TB Media Reporting Project: Amplify the Response” will run from September to October 2026 and will support reporters in Abuja FCT, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Benue, Cross River, Kogi, and Nasarawa to produce human-centered stories that drive testing, treatment uptake, and public accountability.

This was disclosed in a statement by Steve Aborisade, Senior Advocacy and Marketing Manager, AHF Nigeria and made available to newsmen in Makurdi.

Aborisade intimated that the applications would close at the close of business on Monday, 31st August 2026 while interested journalists can apply via https://forms.gle/S8U4HLqQCaCc43Cg7 or by sending documents to Procurement.Nigeria@aidshealth.org with the subject line “AHF HIV/TB Reporting Projects.

AHF currently provides free HIV testing, treatment, care, and TB services across seven states; Abuja FCT, Benue, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Cross River, Kogi, and Nasarawa.

The decision to support journalists in these areas may have been informed by noticeable gaps that persist in TB reduction, stigma, misinformation, including funding gaps, that has remained major barriers to an AIDS free generation.

Despite significant gains recorded in HIV/AIDS treatment and the stride toward the 95-95-95 targets, there is no gainsaying that global challenges that still exist can be relatively tackled through well researched reports, in order to safeguard the gains already recorded.

It is in light of this that the Media has been identified as a major tool to closing the gaps, by churning out impactful stories that would lead to the reduction and eventually the elimination of some of the identified challenges.

According to AHF, the planned Capacity Training, is expected to orientate newsmen on HIV/TB reporting, data journalism, ethics, and safety, adding that the orientation would be facilitated by National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), National AIDS and STIs Control Programme (NASCP), National Tuberculosis, Buruli Ulcer and Leprosy Control Programme (NTBLCP), AHF’s Technical Team and Senior Editors.

Prior to this, selected Journalists are to attend a full day immersive virtual orientation on HIV/TB reporting, data journalism, ethics, and safety.

Consequently, AHF has stated that as part of measures to ensure comprehensive and credible reportage, it would facilitate access to AHF-supported facilities, State AIDS/TB Control programs, SACAs/TB focal persons, PLHIV networks, and TB survivor groups for interviews.

Furthermore, the beneficiaries of the training would be drawn from the aforementioned states.

Additionally, he pointed out that such reports from Journalists in its operational states, would “Increase quality, ethical, and solutions-focused media coverage of HIV and TB in Nigeria.

Some of the objectives of the training he observed would be to mentor Journalists “on HIV/TB science, U=U, TB-HIV co-infection, domestic financing, local ARVs manufacturing, including challenges in the implementation of Nigeria’s Anti-Discrimination Act 2014.

Noting that while the call for the training will open on Monday, 10th August, 2026, AHF said, it will close on the 31st of August, and selected Journalists would be notified on 14th of September, 2026.

AHF, encouraged women journalists, journalists with disabilities, and reporters from community/local language media, to apply for the training, as it intends to place priority on them.

According to the statement, shortlisted journalists will be notified on 14th September 2026, while selection will be based on strength of story pitch 35%, relevance of work samples 15%, journalism experience 15%, gender diversity 15%, and editor support 10%.

For questions, contact Steve Aborisade, Senior Advocacy and Marketing Manager, AHF Nigeria, at 2 Paul Unongo Street, off Ebitu Ukiwe Street, Jabi, Abuja.

AHF, the world’s largest HIV/AIDS healthcare organization, provides care to more than 2.9 million people across 50 countries. In January 2025, it received The King Center’s MLK Jr. Social Justice Award.

The Cross River Independent Electoral Commission (CROSIEC) has charged newly recruited officers to remain politically neutral and uphold professionalism in discharging their duties.

The Chairman, Dr. Ekong Boco made the call on Tuesday in Calabar at a training workshop for electoral officers, assistant electoral officers and store officers.

Boco urged the officials not to identify with political parties or groups, describing their role as similar to that of judges.

“You are civil servants, not politicians. Never identify yourself with any political party or political group because your role is that of an umpire,” he said.

He further charged the officers to abide by the rules of the state civil service in the interest of effective service delivery.

“I urge you to pay attention to the training, it is an opportunity for you to be aligned with the system.

“This training will equip you with knowledge of administrative procedures, election management processes, practices and conduct of credible elections,” he said.

The chairman said that CROSIEC was established under Cross River State Law No. 2 of 2002, now Law No. 8 of 2024.

Boco stated that the current leadership of the commission had recorded significant achievements such as office renovation, water supply, and electricity.

He identified the successful conduct of the 2024 local government council elections as one of the commission’s major achievements since the assumption of office.

Edet said that under-staffing caused by retirements and deaths had been a major challenge, saying, “this prompted the commission to request for additional personnel from the state government”

Declaring the workshop open, Prof. Anthony Owan-Enoh, the Secretary to Cross River Government, commended CROSIEC for organising the training.

Represented by Okpa Akpet, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Budget and Finance, Owan-Emoh urged the newly recruited officers to uphold utmost integrity in the discharge of their duties.

Similarly, Orok Okon, the Head of Service, urged the new electoral officers to uphold neutrality and professionalism in performing their duties.

Represented by Ignatius Edu, Okon warned the officers against bias and corrupt practices in the interest of electoral credibility and fairness.