INTRODUCTION

• Sterling bank is known in Nigeria, for their creativity when it

comes to creating adverts, however not all their creative
concepts are widely accepted by the general public. It would
seem, in the case of sterling bank, creativity has its cost. The
attack of sterling bank for two of their adverts has made many
wonder. Are they truly wrong? Did they break any advertising
codes? Are Nigerians simply being sentimental, or these issues
are general issues in the advertising world. Is their creativity
really a crime. In order to answer this question, sterling bank’s
advert would be compared to other foreign adverts, using the
advertising codes as a parameter for criticism
STERLING BANK SHADES OTHER BANKS
Virtually everyone loved the banter that
followed after Sterling Bank‘s cheeky social
media post that took a swipe at not less than 6
banks.
The banter it generated was fun, at least to
social media users.
But it appears Sterling Bank may have gotten a
warning or something because today, they
released an apology
SIMILAR FOREIGN ADVERTS SHADING COMPETITORS
 RELATED ADVERTISING CODES

• Article 19 : Denigration
• Advertisements shall not denigrate any person or group of persons,
firm, organization, industry, or commercial activity, profession or
product, or seek to bring it or them into public contempt or ridicule.
• Article 20 : Comparative Advertising
• («) Advertisements for products and services shall not unfairly
discredit, disparage, or attack other products, services,
advertisements or companies, or exaggerate the nature or
importance of competitive differences.
• (/>) Advertisements for products and services shall not imitate the
slogans or illustrations of another advertiser in such a manner as to
mislead the consumers.
  
STERLING BANK EASTER DAY ADVERT
SIMILAR FOREIGN CONTROVERSIAL RELIGIOUS ADVERTS
 RELATED CODES TO RELIGIOUS ADVERTS

• Article 14 : Religion
• Advertisements promoting a particular faith or belief shall not offend the right of people to hold
contrary belief or conviction.
•  
• Article 140 : Penalties
• (а) A media house which publishes or exposes an advertisement without the ASP Certificate of
Approval shall be liable to a minimum penalty ofN500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira);
• (б) An agency which creates and/or places for publication or exposure of an advertisement without
the ASP Certificate of Approval shall be liable to a minimum penalty of N500, 000.00 (Five Hundred
Thousand Naira);
• (c) An advertiser who authorises the publication or exposure of an advertisement without the ASP
Certificate of Approval shall be liable to a minimum penalty of N500, 000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand
Naira);
•  
• (d) An advertising practitioner who publishes, exposes or knowingly aids the publication or exposure
of an advertisement without the ASP Certificate of Approval shall be subject to the APCON
disciplinary procedure notwithstanding the payment by his employer of the appropriate penalty.