Sterling Bank Faces Sanction Over Controversial ‘Agege Bread’ Easter Message
Sterling Bank Plc will be sanctioned by the Advertising Practitioner Council of Nigeria (APCON) over a controversial Easter message where it likens the resurrection of Jesus Christ to Agege Bread.
It was reported that Sterling bank, in celebration of Easter, shared 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.
Sterling bank posted the Easter ad on social media platforms and also sent its customers via email. The post sparked public criticism. Many Nigerians described it as a provocative advertisement that diminished the essence of Easter.
In it’s reaction, the advertising industry regulator, APCON, 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 charge 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.”
