The Council of the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN) has unveiled sets of legislative code and rules which it says would henceforth serve as guide on ethics and conduct for professional marketing practitioners in Nigeria.
Christened as NIMN Code of Professional Marketing Practice 2020, the rules and regulations takes formal effect starting from September 1, 2020. The Institute, in a statement signed by its President, Tony Agenmonmen said it is committed to the goal of promoting the highest standards of professional conduct, ethical norms and values for all cadre of its membership, including practitioners, academics and students alike.
The statement reads, “As marketers, we recognise that we not only serve our organisations, but also act as stewards of society in creating, facilitating and executing the transactions that are part of the greater economy.
In this role, marketers are expected to embrace the highest professional ethical norms and the ethical values implied by our responsibility toward multiple stakeholders (e.g., customers, employees, investors, peers, channel members, regulators and the host communities).
“In furtherance of the provisions of the Act, the Council therefore makes the following rules and regulations to guide the professional conduct of all marketing professionals in Nigeria and to maintain discipline within the profession. These rules and regulations will take effect from 1stSeptember2020 and shall be cited as NIMN Code of Professional Marketing Practice 2020,” the statement added.
Furthermore, the Institute stated that it is the duty of all marketing professionals to appraise themselves of this code and to conduct themselves professionally in line with its provisions, adding that the code was issued as a directive to assist members to conduct themselves in a manner, which the Council considers appropriate to the profession in general and to the members of the Institute in particular.
“The Code must, of course, be read in conjunction with the Institute’s Act, other Laws or Act in force and binding on the marketing profession. Members who are in doubt as to their correct course of action in particular circumstances should obtain further advice through the Registrar of the Institute,” the statement said.
On compliance with Nigerian laws, the Institute said: “We expect at all times for marketing professionals to respect the laws of Nigeria, regulatory organisations, licensing agencies, or professional association governing their professional activities.”In addition, the Institute highlighted further that “The most important of the other relevant Codes are: Advertising, i.e – the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) Code of Advertising and Promotion guidelines, and the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.”Referencing various reputable national and international sources of the Code, the Institute further stated that “This NIMN Code of Professional Marketing Practice draws extensively from the guidelines of the following organisations, to whom we are very grateful: America Marketing Association (AMA), Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and Marketing Institute of Ireland (MII).”
Commenting on the Code, Mr. Tony Agenmonmen, President and Chairman of the Council explained that the Council made the rules and regulations to guide the professional conduct of all marketing professionals in Nigeria and to maintain discipline within the profession.
He said “It is the duty of all marketing professionals to appraise themselves of the code and to conduct themselves professionally in line with its provisions.“I certify the NIMN Code of Professional Marketing Practice to be the true and correct decision of the Council of the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN) and approved by Annual General Meeting (AGM) of 16 July 2020, and is in accordance with the provisions of NIMN Act 25 of 2003,” he said.
The National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN) was established by Act 25 of 2003. The Act recognises the Institute as the sole body for the regulation and control of the marketing profession in Nigeria. In addition to determining the standard of knowledge and skills required to be recognised as a marketing professional, the Act empowers the Council to make rules and regulations for the guidance of professional practice and conduct by marketing professionals.
