The leadership of the Out -of -Home Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN) has said the proposed Chartered Out -of -Home Media Practitioners Bill is designed to bring sanity to the sector, protect members’ assets and stem charlatanism in the OoH sector.
The association, in a statement issued by its President, Mr. Sola Akinsiku, also stated that it was never consulted by the Heads of Advertising Sectoral Group (HASG) before the Group issued a statement to oppose the proposed Chartered body for Out -of- Home Media Bill, presently being discussed on the floor of the national assembly.
It argued that though it never initiated the Bill, it is however in its full support; since it will go a long way in enhancing the fortunes of practitioners and the practice, and bring sanity to the out- of -home Advertising ecosystem.
OAAN stated that, when passed into law, the Bill will go a long way in checking destructions, usually meted out to Out- of -Home Media assets in the country, and the bastardisation of the environment, through cluttering.
“For the avoidance of doubts, our Association has unequivocally and unambiguously expressed our support for the Bill, as proposed by the most distinguished Senator Abaribe Eyinnaya Harcourt because we are convinced that the anticipated Charter will promote sanity, excellence and professionalism in the Out-of-Home media ecosystem.
“We believe very strongly that it is in the best interest of our practice and business as well as the industry to have the proposed chartered status. At the least, onslaught against Out-of-Home Media Assets in the country would be protected and bastardization of the environment with cluttering would stop.
“Therefore, we do reiterate that we do not subscribe to the statement by the HASG purporting to oppose the bill,” the association added.
It will be recalled that some media organisations had identified the association with a recent statement, issued by the Heads of Advertising Sectoral Group (HASG), stating the Group’s opposition to the establishment of a Chartered body for Out-of-Home Media practice in the country.
“Let me quickly state at this point Sir, that we (OAAN) are aware of, and fully support the bill, for the primary reason that the proposed chartered status will help bring sanity into the Out-of-Home media ecosystem in the country.
“OOH practice has suffered setbacks over the years, because of inadequate standards/proper control from the non advertising aspect of the practice.
“The non advertising aspect of OOH practice includes, but not limited to: Allocation of sites; Environmental standards; Engineering standards; Entry/exit barrier and Charlatanism, among others.
“We therefore believe very strongly that this bill will further help OoH practice in the areas of Policy consistency, Stemming the tide of bastardization of the environment with cluttering and
Periodic destruction of OoH hoardings, by governments in their attempt to sanitize after bastardization,” Akinsiku stated.
