Minister of information and national orientation Alhaji Mohammed Idris Malagi has tasked Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) to promote local content in advertising in order to create Jobs for the youth in Nigeria.
He lamented that many opportunities in the Advertising industry are lost to other countries despite the huge and rich talents that abound in the country resulting in unnecessary capital flight.
Malagi stated this Friday during a familiarization tour of ARCON in Abuja.
“I encourage you to promote local content and production . Presently, many opportunities in the industry are lost to other countries despite our rich capacity which indeed us the pride of Africa.
“This results in unnecessary capital flight. We cannot afford to have capital flight in Nigeria when our population is growing with a lot of youth looking for job. If these jobs are allowed to leave this country, it is going to be a disaster for us in the feature,” he said.
According to him, advertising is not not just business. It is also a way to engage the nation. It is also a way to promote our culture and values to reflect our diversities.
” It also provide direct, indirect jobs and inclusion. That was why I was excited when you mentioned the issue of local content.
“This is because whatever we do, we have to ensure that job for our youth are protected and the economy can also grow along with that,” he said.
He expressed commitment to working with the management ARCON in promoting innovation.
“Innovation is key here because we have to keep evolving and I am happy with some of the things I have seen here. The only way you can remain relevant is to continue to evolve especially in this age of time.
“Our collective goal is to ensure that the sector in Nigeria not only meet international standard but serve as a catalyst for national development,” he said.
The Minister explained that Advertising is not just business, it is also a way of engaging the nation, promoting culture and values, reflecting the diversity in the country, and also providing direct and indirect jobs.
He commended the effort of ARCON in regulating advertising practices in Nigeria and ensuring that practitioners adhere to the highest standards.
“I am aware of the audience measurement insight being handled by your office; I am hopeful that you have achieved some milestones regarding this important issue, to ensure maximum return on media investments,” He said.
The Minister expressed his commitment to working closely with ARCON in promoting innovation, adding that it is the goal of the Ministry to ensure that the Advertising industry in Nigeria not only meets international standards but also serves as a catalyst for national development.
He equally commended ARCON for working in synergy with other sister Agencies in promoting the core values of the nation and the reorientation of Nigerians while urging them to maintain a good relationship with her stakeholders as any attempt to deviate from the Agency’s mandate would not be beneficial to the Nation.
“We need to come together on the issue of National Orientation and National Rebirth. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to preserving Nigeria’s core values and positioning the nation once again in the global community, while the Ministry of Information and National Orientation is the custodian and chief implementer of the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
On his part, the Director General of ARCON, Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, in his remark thanked the Minister for the visit while appealing to the Minister to intervene on the issue of the planned removal of the Agency from the Federal Government Budget, adding that the step would reverse some of the gains made by the Agency. He equally appealed to the Minister to facilitate the timely inauguration of its Governing Council for ease of operation.
The Minister was accompanied by some Directors in the Ministry.
