The Executive Governor of Delta State, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa has challenged the members of Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN)) on the need for close monitoring and supervision to restrict advertising for such products as alcohol and tobacco.
Okowa said the restrictions should particularly be made within a set of radius of schools, parks and residential areas as well as avoid indiscriminate placement of billboards to deface the environment and that members should take the extra care of the beauty and aesthetics of environment.
The governor who was represented by the state commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Barrister Mary Iyasere, made this statement at the weekend during the 32nd Annual General Meeting of the association in Asaba in Delta State. The theme of the meeting was: ‘Managing Our Business Profitably in a Recession.’
“Owing to the wide reach of the activities of your association, there is the important need for close monitoring and supervision to restrict advertising for such products as alcohol and tobacco, within a set of radius of schools, parks and residential areas. It is important to avoid indiscriminate placement of billboards to deface the environment. I sincerely think that your members would always take the extra care of the beauty and aesthetics of environment,” Okowa said.
Governor Okowa also implored the outdoor advertising practitioners to come up with suggestions for solutions to the numerous difficulties that face outdoor advertising in Nigeria.
In his welcome address, the President of the association, Mr Tunde Adedoyin while revealing that the association has been facing some challenges in recent times, also reeled out his scorecard in his first two years in office.
He said that his tenure has strengthened the bond of unity amongst members in relating with one another business wise and socially, set up a library within the body’s Secretariat, made efforts to conduct a detailed research work on outdoor advertising industry, able to facilitate negotiations with the APC as a party to pay the debts owed some outdoor advertising agencies, worked assiduously on getting payments for debts owed members by Globacom Telecommunications Limited as well as bringing on board more quality members to the association.
Other achievements as reeled out by Adedoyin included review of the association’s constitution, investiture of new quality and eminent Nigerians as patrons, amongst other impressive achievements.
The APCON Registrar, Alhaji Garba Kankarofi who was represented by Mrs Iyoha reminded the members that the council is ready to continuously support the association but looks forward to the shared responsibility of ensuring that the advertising profession and it’s core principles are extolled continually and taken to even greater heights.
While the Annual General Meeting witnessed some resourceful presentations by representatives of Delta State Signage and Advertisement Agency as well as from Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency, the association also returned Mr Tunde Adedoyin as the President for another two term with the other members of his executive excluding the Treasurer, Mr Atilola Williams Odudare who did not signify his intention to return.
The new Executive members are Tunde Adedoyin as president, Mr Emmanuel Ajufo as Vice president, Mr Femi Ogala as Secretary, Mr Tunde Oyekan as Assistant Secretary, Mr Obi Nnaobi as Publicity Secretary while Mrs Dupe Adewuyi emerged the new Treasurer.
The Ex-officio members are Dr Charles Chijide (the immediate past president) of charella Limited, Mr Churchill Nwagwu of Spreadout Media Limited to Mr George Onwujiariri of Mario Sanctus Limited and Mrs Ify Onukwuba of NAS Limited.
The meeting also featured the induction of new member companies including Afromedia Airports Limited, Audience and Brands Consulting Limited, Interlink Multiconcept Limited, Yellowstrip Limited, Landmark Limited and Adscape Limited while Ocean Outdoor Limited and Dynamic Display Marketing and Communications Limited were upgraded to full membership.
Certificates of Merit were issued to committee members for their immense contributions to the development of the outdoor association.
