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Media · Nigeria

License an advertising agency (ARCON)

License an advertising agency with ARCON/APCON: register individual practitioners → corporate documents (RPA CEO) → agency insurance → corporate licence & ad approvals.

4
steps
2
agencies involved
Who you will deal with
Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON/APCON)ARCON
The steps
  1. 1Register individual practitioners
    Agency
    Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON/APCON)
    What is required
    Key staff register with ARCON (HND/degree in advertising/marketing/mass communication, NYSC, referees), attend the induction and take the Oath of Practice.
    Documents
    Qualifications; NYSC; referees; induction
    Typical timeline
    Practitioner stage
  2. 2Prepare corporate documents
    Agency
    ARCON
    What is required
    The CEO must be a Registered Practitioner of Advertising (RPA). Provide staff APCON registration, an audited financial report, Tax Clearance Certificate and a pension compliance letter.
    Documents
    RPA CEO; staff registrations; audited report; TCC; pension letter
    Typical timeline
    Documentation
  3. 3Provide agency business insurance
    Agency
    ARCON
    What is required
    Provide agency business insurance from an approved Nigerian insurer: ₦200,000,000 for a National agency, ₦500,000,000 for a Foreign agency.
    Documents
    Agency insurance (₦200m National / ₦500m Foreign)
    Typical timeline
    Before licensing
  4. 4Corporate licence and ad approvals
    Agency
    ARCON
    What is required
    ARCON licenses the agency; pay practice fees (by 31 March yearly). Individual advertisements are pre-cleared via Standards Panel Form 001 (Certificate of Approval) signed by a registered practitioner.
    Documents
    Licence fee; ad materials for approval
    Typical timeline
    Annual practice fee

Primary source: https://advertcouncil.gov.ng/ · confidence: high

Also in media
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The numbers behind the decision

Knowing the process is half of it. ONYX also tracks the operating environment you are entering — daily grid generation, official FX, state-level input prices and inflation, and sector output — each figure source-linked and dated.

ONYX publishes what the responsible agencies publish, with a link to each source. Requirements, fees and timelines change, and an officer's reading of a rule can differ from the published text. Verify against the linked source before you commit money — this is reference information, not legal advice.

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