Nigeria’s advertising and marketing communications sector is mourning the death of Chief Michael Olumuyiwa Falomo, a pioneering figure who shaped the industry’s development over six decades. The former chairman of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) died at 87.

Early Roots in Broadcasting

Falomo’s career trajectory spans the entire modern history of Nigerian advertising, beginning with his work in broadcasting during the pre-independence era. Starting in 1959 as a production unit officer at Western Nigeria Television and Western Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation, he was among the first generation of professionals to work in commercial television and radio in Nigeria. This early exposure to broadcast media would later inform his understanding of advertising’s role in mass communication.

His transition into advertising proper came in 1963 when he left broadcasting to join the private sector. Over subsequent decades, he worked his way through several agencies before achieving executive leadership at Ogilvy, Benson and Mather Nigeria Limited, one of the multinational agencies that dominated Nigerian advertising during the 1970s and 1980s. His tenure as executive director at Ogilvy positioned him among the few Nigerians to reach senior management levels in multinational advertising firms during that period.

Building Forum Advertising

The establishment of Forum Advertising Nigeria Limited in 1986 marked Falomo’s transition from corporate executive to entrepreneur. As managing director and chief executive officer, he built the agency into a competitive player in Nigeria’s advertising market, demonstrating that locally-owned agencies could deliver professional services comparable to their multinational counterparts. Forum Advertising remained operational under his leadership until his recent retirement, representing one of the longer-surviving indigenous advertising agencies in Nigeria.

Regulatory Leadership at APCON

Falomo’s most significant regulatory contribution came through his appointment by President Olusegun Obasanjo as chairman of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria in December 1999. Serving until 2003, he led the regulatory body during a period of significant change in Nigerian advertising, as new technologies and evolving media landscapes challenged traditional advertising models. His four-year chairmanship focused on strengthening professional standards and regulatory compliance within the industry.

Industry and International Influence

Beyond advertising regulation, Falomo held leadership positions across multiple professional bodies. He served as president of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria, the Nigerian chapter of the International Advertising Association, and sat on the world board of directors of the International Advertising Association from 1990 to 1994. These roles gave him influence over industry policy and professional development at both national and international levels.

His corporate governance experience extended to the fast-moving consumer goods sector, where he chaired the board of Reckitt Benckiser Nigeria. This position demonstrated his capacity to apply advertising and marketing expertise to corporate board-level decision making. He also operated Olu Falomo and Associates as principal consultant, providing advisory services to various organizations.

Social Welfare and Community Service

Falomo maintained active involvement in social welfare organizations throughout his career. His work with the Nigerian Society for the Blind, where he served in multiple capacities including trustee, spanned over three decades beginning in 1987. He also contributed to the Nigerian Society for the Welfare of Retired and Elderly Persons, the Bloom Cancer Care and Support Centre, and served as patron of the Aanu Olu Pre-school Unit for Physically Challenged Children.

Within his religious community, Falomo held numerous positions at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos. He served on the standing committee for ten years, chaired various committees including the Feast of Dedication Committee and Membership Committee, and led several church organizations. The Lagos Diocesan Guild of Stewards recognized his contributions with honors for exemplary service. He also founded and coordinated the Surulere Prayer Breakfast Group, maintaining that role for over 31 years.

Traditional Honors and Legacy

Recognition of his community contributions came through traditional titles including Otun Baroyin of Oke-Ona Egba, Lomoofe of Ilare-Ijesa, and Lofosan of Ifosan Quarters in Ilesa. These chieftaincy honors reflected his engagement with his Osun State roots despite his Lagos-based professional career. He was born in Ilesa on August 13, 1938, and attended St. John’s Anglican School, Iloro in Ilesha before proceeding to Government College, Ibadan.

Falomo was predeceased by his wife, Mrs. Hilda Titilola Falomo, a lawyer and insurance executive who died nearly 26 years ago. He is survived by children and grandchildren. Industry colleagues and associates have described him as a consummate professional whose contributions extended beyond commercial success to encompass ethical practice, mentorship, and institutional development.

The advertising regulatory body, now known as the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria, acknowledged his passing as a significant loss to the marketing communications community. His death removes one of the few remaining links to the formative period of Nigerian advertising when the industry’s foundations were being established and professional standards were being codified. Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced by the family.