Restoring Trust Through Standards: Dr. Sola Akinsiku’s Compliance Case for a Professional Advertising Industry

Every profession reaches a defining moment when growth must be matched with governance, innovation with accountability, and ambition with standards.

For Dr. Sola Akinsiku, President of the Out of Home Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN), the future of Nigeria’s advertising industry depends not only on creativity and commercial success but on something deeper — a culture of compliance, professionalism and ethical responsibility.

On Monday mornings at the Lagos Airport Hotel, where professionals, travellers and members of the Rotary Club gather in familiar fellowship, Akinsiku’s leadership philosophy is visible before he even begins to speak. His interactions are marked by humility, accessibility and a belief that leadership is ultimately about service.

That philosophy has shaped his decades-long journey across advertising practice, regulation, academia and industry leadership.

Today, as Managing Director of KOK Visibility Edge and founder of Landmark Media Limited, he represents an industry navigating a critical transition — from an informal operating environment to a more structured, accountable and globally competitive profession.

And at the centre of that transition is compliance.

Leadership Begins With Values

For Akinsiku, compliance is not merely about meeting rules; it begins with personal ethics.

“My personal principle is that the Golden Rule must apply at all times,” he says. “If it is not good enough, then it is not good at all. If I will not accept it, then I will not try it on anyone. I believe it is better to be offended than to be the one on the offensive. I would rather be cheated than be the one cheating.”

That principle mirrors the foundation of every effective compliance culture: integrity must precede enforcement.

His leadership philosophy is rooted in the belief that institutions are strengthened when individuals understand that accountability is not a burden but a responsibility.

“Wherever I find myself, I see it as an opportunity to do my best, not to serve as an acknowledgement that you are a superstar,” he says. “I am just privileged to be one among so many people that can do better.”

For compliance professionals, that perspective reflects a critical leadership lesson — sustainable governance is built by stewards who prioritise institutional value above personal recognition.

From Regulation to Professional Responsibility

Akinsiku’s understanding of standards was shaped during his years at the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), now the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), where he worked in areas including research, public relations, vetting and inspectorate.

His experience within the regulatory environment gave him first-hand exposure to the importance of professional oversight, ethical conduct and industry discipline.

It also reinforced a belief that regulation should not be viewed as a restriction but as a mechanism for protecting trust.

“The issue is that there is no law entrenched to guide the practice of out-of-home,” he says.

For him, the absence of strong regulatory structures creates room for practices that weaken confidence in the industry.

“Nobody is restricting entry into this profession. What we are saying is, let us practise with decorum, decency, excellence in mind and professionalism.”

That message aligns closely with the compliance community’s understanding of regulated environments: standards do not exist to prevent participation; they exist to ensure responsible participation.

Compliance as a Foundation for Industry Credibility

One of Akinsiku’s strongest concerns is the presence of unprofessional practices that undermine the reputation of legitimate practitioners.

“We are not happy with the current situation of the practice in our country,” he says. “There is so much charlatanism in the industry.”

His concern is not competition. It is credibility.

“The practice of out-of-home is no longer for people who could not do anything,” he says. “Today, you have people with two or three degrees. You have PhD holders. You have barristers at law. You have engineers.”

The message is clear: industries mature when professional identity is supported by ethical obligations, competence requirements and accountability frameworks.

“We are not operators. We are practitioners. We are professionals.”

For compliance leaders, this distinction is significant. The evolution from operator to professional requires governance structures, clear standards, continuous education and mechanisms that hold practitioners accountable.

Building Trust in a High-Investment Industry

The economic consequences of weak compliance, Akinsiku argues, are significant.

Outdoor advertising involves substantial capital investment. A single structure can represent tens of millions of naira in expenditure, making regulatory certainty essential.

“A unipole can cost close to N35 million to erect, while an LED can cost between N50 million and N100 million or more. No reasonable entrepreneur will put up what tomorrow the government can pull down.”

His argument reflects a wider governance principle: predictable regulation encourages investment, while inconsistent enforcement creates reputational and financial risks.

For businesses, compliance is therefore not simply a regulatory obligation. It is a business continuity strategy.

Ethics, Approval Processes and Public Accountability

With Nigeria approaching another election cycle, Akinsiku believes advertising — particularly political advertising — requires stronger compliance controls.

He argues that public-facing communication should operate within clear approval processes to protect fairness, transparency and accountability.

“I want to suggest very strongly that INEC should find a way to respect ARCON and make this mandatory,” he says. “Any advertisement exposed without approval should attract serious sanction.”

His position reflects a broader compliance principle: communication that influences public opinion must be subject to appropriate governance safeguards.

Whether in financial services, healthcare, technology or advertising, organisations increasingly recognise that reputational risk is closely linked to compliance failures.

Innovation Must Be Responsible

While advocating stronger regulation, Akinsiku remains a strong supporter of innovation.

He believes Nigerian practitioners possess the creativity and expertise required to compete internationally.

“There is no campaign or creative that you find anywhere in the world that is not available in Nigeria.”

But innovation, he says, must be purposeful.

“You do not just bring innovation to show off that you have money.”

That perspective resonates strongly in today’s compliance environment, where emerging technologies, artificial intelligence and digital transformation require organisations to balance innovation with governance.

The question is no longer whether organisations should innovate, but whether they can innovate responsibly.

Leadership as Stewardship

For Akinsiku, leadership is measured not by titles but by the systems left behind.

“We have 12 people on council representing almost 200 firms,” he explains. “When you look at each of those firms being responsible for the wellbeing of families, you see that you have a huge responsibility.”

His approach is collaborative.

“If I have an idea, I put it out to the Executive Council. Once the Executive Council buys into it, we seek concurrence from members. Once members say run, I do not look back until they say come.”

This is the essence of governance — decisions made through consultation, accountability and collective ownership.

As he reflects on his leadership journey, he remains focused on long-term impact.

“I believe the impact of our leadership may only be seen after we have left office.”

For the compliance community, that statement captures the heart of responsible leadership. Strong institutions are not built around individuals; they are built around values, systems and standards that endure beyond any single tenure.

Dr. Sola Akinsiku’s message is ultimately a call for professional maturity: that industries seeking sustainable growth must embrace compliance not as a constraint, but as the foundation for trust, credibility and lasting success.