Nation
TV Producers Laud ARCON Over Advertising Protection
The Independent Television Producers Association of Nigeria (ITPAN) has commended the decision of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) to implement effective regulatory framework designed to protect advertising businesses in Nigeria.
ITPAN President, Mr Adeyinka Oduniyi, made the commendation in a statement in Lagos.
ARCON had announced that it would commence the implementation of a policy to ensure a minimum of 75 per cent commulative local content of all advertising, advertisment and marketing communication materials with effect from January 1, 2023.
Oduniyi said this conforms with the Federal Government’s policy of developing local talent and achieving an inclusive economic growth for all sectors, including advertising.
According to him, this will spur job creation, inclusive growth and development of various sectors of the economy.
“It is with great excitement and relief that we receive the delightful news that the Federal Government, National Assembly and ARCON have finally decided on a more effective regulatory framework.
“This is to guide and protect the practice of advertising and its ancillary businesses in conformity with the best practices within the global advertising community,” he said.
He noted that ITPAN had long been an advocate and campaigner for urgent and critical policy interventions to save the practice and business of advertising in Nigeria.
He said before now, the advertising industry had recorded loss of about N120 billion annually to production of advertising, advertisements and marketing communication materials outside the country.
He noted that it was disheartening to know that the industry in Nigeria had all but collapsed with the attendant massive loss of jobs and weakened capacity to contribute to the country’s GDP.
“This has led to some of the core advertising agencies branching out into other areas of mass communications to stay afloat while hundreds of employees have lost their means of livelihood.
“Even those in the allied businesses of audio-visual productions, casting and modeling have had to move away into other fields of human endeavor just as training investments have continued to dwindle overtime.
“But with the recent development, it is the way to go in moving the industry forward,” he said.
Also, former President of ITPAN, Mr Femi Odugbemi said, “Our advertisers and agencies are investing locally generated money to develop the production industry in other countries which obviously do not need our generosity.
“It is therefore gratifying to identify with and fully endorse the noble determination of the ARCON, not only to stem the hemorrhage but to deliberately put in place a policy environment that will protect and encourage the rebuilding of a viable and sustainable advertising industry.
“This is for the overall good of our national economy, to the profit of the practitioners and for the cultural benefits of our people”.
Odugbemi said that at fruition, the new policy wiould put an immediate end to the acts of ferrying production of audio-visual advertisement materials to producers in foreign countries.
He explained that it would also discourage the use of foreign models and voice-over artistes, thereby returning the jobs to equally and even better skilled Nigerians.
“As a direct consequence, the very many lost briefs and jobs shall return while our languishing production equipment shall find opportunities for productive engagements.
“Business owners shall be encouraged to re-invest and re-employ those who have been redundant; new investors and investments shall be attracted to bring in funding opportunities that financial institutions can leverage.
“This bold commitment by the regulator and government deserves the total support and equal commitment of all stakeholders,organisations including ADVAN and other practitioners to bring the initiative to full fruition for our mutual benefits.
“We strongly recommend that ARCON must demand total compliance with this new policy regime in order that the sdvertising industry and its ancillaries may fully return to add value to our national desire to become big, strong and formidable.
“On our part, ITPAN hereby commits to engage with ARCON and other critical stakeholders to begin the rejuvenation process.
“This is by developing ideas and strategies, implementing strategic partnerships and business opportunities that can lead to a more prosperous and sustainable industry for Nigeria and its people,” he said.
The Rivers state Government has identified six local government areas with the highest burden of maternal and Neonatal mortality in the state.
State Commissioner for Health Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh said this in an interview with newsmen at the Maternal and Neonatal Reduction innovation initiative ( Mamii)Rivers state activation workshop and state engagement meeting in Port Harcourt.
The event was organized by The Federal Ministry of Health in conjunction with its Rivers state counterpart in Port Harcourt.
Dr Oreh also restated the preparedness of the state government to support current efforts by the federal government towards the reduction of maternal and infant mortalities in the country.
She mentioned the affected Local Government Areas to include, Andoni,Akuku Toru and Ahoada West
The rest according to the Commissioner are, Bonny, Etche and Emohua Local Government Areas.
She said the workshop will enable the team from the federal ministry of health and social welfare to brainstorm with the view to finding solution to the problem.
The Commissioner also gave reasons why the Mamii initiative was the best as far as finding solution to maternal mortality was concerned.
“The uniqueness of the Mamii initiative driven by the federal ministry of health and social welfare was that we used evidence to elicit the reasons for this deaths, so that the solutions will be context specific and tailored to the particular environment where those deaths are occuring
“For us in Rivers state we have six Mamii LGAs , nationally we we have 172 local government areas “the Commissioner said.
Earlier in her opening remarks,Dr Oreh said the state government is prepared to work with the federal ministry of health and social welfare to check the rate of maternal mortality in the state.
She commended The Minister of Health and Social welfare Professor Ali Muhammad Pategi for driving the Mamii initiative across the country and expressed optimism that the programm will see to the end of maternal mortality in the country.
Also speaking the National Coordinator Nigeria health sector Renewal Initiative Dr Adam Ahmed said Rivers state is the last state among Mamii states in the country to host the team.
He said the team will visit the affected Local Government Areas with the view to interacting with the people on how to check the trend.
He expressed the hope that with continuous efforts, maternal mortality will be checked.
Also speaking the permanent secretary Rivers state Ministry of Health Professor Justinah Jumbo said the government is not leaving any stone unturned towards reduction in maternal deaths.
The permanent secretary said Governor Siminalaye Fubara is a health friendly Governor who is desirous in improving the quality of health of Rivers people.
John Bibor
A pan-Nigeria organisation committed to the promotion and preservation of indigenous languages, Indigenous Language and Culture Promoters (ILCP), has called for the deliberate development and compulsory teaching of indigenous languages in both primary and secondary schools across the country.
The group made the call during its maiden Congress held in Bori, Rivers State, which was convened to examine challenges hindering the official adoption and effective teaching of Ogoni languages in schools.
Speaking at the Congress, the Executive Director of the organisation, HRC Mene Magnus Edooh, Amb.P, emphasised the critical role of indigenous languages in preserving a people’s culture, values and history. He warned against the gradual extinction of native languages, noting that language loss equates to identity loss.
“Years ago, Latin was a language of global relevance, but today it is largely extinct. We do not want Ogoni languages to suffer a similar fate. As a people, we cannot afford to lose our identity through the death of our languages,” Edooh said.
He explained that the Indigenous Language and Culture Promoters was established to collaborate with language stakeholders to ensure that children and younger generations remain connected to their mother tongues. The organisation also appealed to governments at all levels, as well as relevant institutions and individuals, to take strategic actions aimed at promoting and sustaining Nigeria’s indigenous languages.
Also speaking, the newly appointed Director of Media and Information, Prince David N. Gbarato, questioned the rationale behind government reluctance to accord indigenous languages their rightful place in national development policies.
According to him, “People with well-developed languages are people with well-developed indigenous systems and affairs,” stressing that language development is fundamental to cultural and societal advancement.
The Congress further served as a platform for the ratification of key officers of the organisation and featured the participation of representatives from various indigenous language groups and other language stakeholders, all of whom echoed the call for renewed commitment towards safeguarding Nigeria’s linguistic heritage.
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