Sterling Bank In A Big Mess As Her Easter Advert Comparing The Resurrection With “AGEGE BREAD” Runs Contrary To APCON Guideline, Risks Severe Sanctions.

Sterling Bank.

The Advertising Practitioners Council Of Nigeria, APCON is to wield the big stick against one of Nigerian banks, Sterling Bank for what the council describes as distasteful advertisement as the bank neither submitted for vetting or for approval the material she pushed out for public consumption during the just concludes Easter celebrations.

In a statement, APCON states that the council had observed with displeasure the insensitive and provocative Easter Celebration advertisement by Sterling Bank Plc which compared the resurrection of Christ with agege bread, and said that the advert material did not go through the processes for approval.

APCON says she would take necessary actions to ensure that Sterling Bank is sanctioned for the exposure of such offensive advertisement according to law and that no religious belief or faith is ridiculed.

Advertising guru. Chido Nwakanma had eelier taken a swipe at Sterling Bank, questioning why a team that put such a blasphemous advert out for the public should remain with the bank another day at the resumption of work on Tuesday, the 19^th of April. 2022.

APCON Note.

According to him, unless they are equally complicit, the Management of Sterling Bank should clear its Corporate Communications team on Tuesday. Everyone involved in preparing and placing that obnoxious advert that pokes noxious fingers into the eyes of all Christians in Nigeria should not be involved in communications one day extra.

Furthermore, he asks, “Have you seen the obnoxious and insulting ad? A corporate entity such as Sterling Bank signs off on an ad that compares the basis of the Christian faith to Agege Bread. It is the height of idiocy! It is an offensive joke, as the resurrection of Christ is the foundation of our faith as Christians. Blaze comparisons in the name of creativity are offensive.

Then Sterling Bank worsens the offence by offering a non-apology. The uninformed copy asks us to “Forgive in the Spirit of Easter” but confirms they are not sorry. It states, “Let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone”. Foolishness!

“For our recent errors, we sincerely apologize. We humbly celebrate his resurrection, the defeat of death and the hope of salvation”.