Sterling Bank Plc will now face sanction by the Advertising Practitioner Council of Nigeria (APCON) over an offensive post it flagged which likened Jesus Christ’s resurrection to the rise of Agege bread in its Easter message.
APCON made this known in a recent press release signed by Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, the Chief Executive Officer of APCON.
In celebration of Easter, Sterling Bank had posted an Easter ad on social media platforms and also sent its customers via email.
The message contained a picture of a golden-brown bread divided into two with the caption ‘Like Agege Bread, He Rose!”
Agege bread is a popular Nigerian bread known for its soft, stretchy and chewy texture. The post sparked public criticism from Nigerians who expressed their outrage online.
Many chided the bank for diminishing the essence of Easter, while some found the post funny. Describing the post as one that is insensitive and insulting to Christians, social media users demanded that the post be brought down immediately and an apology be tendered by the bank.
@Airsae, a Twitter user, wrote, “How can you compare the rising of Jesus Christ with the rising of Agege bread. Is this a joke or what? Sterling bank, O wrong now!”
“I see nothing wrong with Sterling bank’s “Agege bread” Easter Message.
That is Poetry!” @Daybor, another Twitter user, said in a post.
Responding to the backlash, Sterling bank pulled down the post, replacing it with another post in which it apologised to its customers.
Quoting the Bible verse, John 8:7, the new post reads, “…let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone”.
“Forgive us in the spirit of Easter,” the bank added.
“Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. We humbly celebrate His resurrection, the defeat of death and the hope of salvation.”
But in its reaction, APCON said the “distasteful” advertisement was not submitted for approval by its panel.
Describing the action of the bank as provocative Easter celebration advertisement, the advertising regulatory agency said it will ensure that the bank is sanctioned for such an offensive advertisement.
The statement read, “The Advertising Practitioner Council of Nigeria (APCON) has observed with displeasure the insensitive and provocative Easter celebration advertisement by Sterling Bank Plc which compared to the resurrection of Christ with Agege Bread.
“The distasteful advertisement was neither submitted nor approved for exposure by the advertising standard panel (ASP), the statutory panel charged with the responsibility of ensuring that advertisement conforms with the prevailing laws of the federation as well as the code of ethics of advertising in Nigeria.
“APCON will 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 or any blasphemous advertisement exposed in any guise.”
APCON made this known in a recent press release signed by Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, the Chief Executive Officer of APCON.
In celebration of Easter, Sterling Bank had posted an Easter ad on social media platforms and also sent its customers via email.
The message contained a picture of a golden-brown bread divided into two with the caption ‘Like Agege Bread, He Rose!”
Agege bread is a popular Nigerian bread known for its soft, stretchy and chewy texture. The post sparked public criticism from Nigerians who expressed their outrage online.
Many chided the bank for diminishing the essence of Easter, while some found the post funny. Describing the post as one that is insensitive and insulting to Christians, social media users demanded that the post be brought down immediately and an apology be tendered by the bank.
@Airsae, a Twitter user, wrote, “How can you compare the rising of Jesus Christ with the rising of Agege bread. Is this a joke or what? Sterling bank, O wrong now!”
“I see nothing wrong with Sterling bank’s “Agege bread” Easter Message.
That is Poetry!” @Daybor, another Twitter user, said in a post.
Responding to the backlash, Sterling bank pulled down the post, replacing it with another post in which it apologised to its customers.
Quoting the Bible verse, John 8:7, the new post reads, “…let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone”.
“Forgive us in the spirit of Easter,” the bank added.
“Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. We humbly celebrate His resurrection, the defeat of death and the hope of salvation.”
But in its reaction, APCON said the “distasteful” advertisement was not submitted for approval by its panel.
Describing the action of the bank as provocative Easter celebration advertisement, the advertising regulatory agency said it will ensure that the bank is sanctioned for such an offensive advertisement.
The statement read, “The Advertising Practitioner Council of Nigeria (APCON) has observed with displeasure the insensitive and provocative Easter celebration advertisement by Sterling Bank Plc which compared to the resurrection of Christ with Agege Bread.
“The distasteful advertisement was neither submitted nor approved for exposure by the advertising standard panel (ASP), the statutory panel charged with the responsibility of ensuring that advertisement conforms with the prevailing laws of the federation as well as the code of ethics of advertising in Nigeria.
“APCON will 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 or any blasphemous advertisement exposed in any guise.”