Why OAAN is on Charter pursuit, by Akinsiku

President Out-of-Home Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN), Sola Akinsiku, has disclosed that the pursuit of a Charter is to seek professional status for the practice of OOH Media as a profession, with a recognised body of knowledge.

In an interview with The Guardian, he noted contrary to fears in some quarters, the Charter is not duplicating any known law, and does not seek to break any known rank in the industry.

In addition, he added the Charter does not seek to contend with the constitutional powers of the local governments, nor does it seek to regulate the practice of advertising.

Saying regulatory powers belong to Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), he added the bill is not seeking to take that power from ARCON. Rather, it seeks to bring together all professions relevant to OOH practice, including engineering, etc., to ensure excellence and sanity.

He noted, “it seeks to fill the gaps that currently exist and which no known law has the capacity to address, Those who oppose it have not taken the time to study the proposed bill. I dare say that many of them have not even read it! The bill simply seeks to ensure that OOH is a profession duly recognised by law.”

The deliverables will include a commitment to professionalism in all areas of the practice.”

It will therefore be in the overall best interest of the brand when the bill is passed. The request of OAAN, therefore, is that, rather than oppose it, everyone with the genuine interest of the brand should support its passage into law.”

The bill, proposed by Senator Abaribe Eyinnaya, has garnered OAAN’s unequivocal support.