The Nigerian Advertising Regulatory Council plans to regulate the use of computer-generated imagery in advertising.

Dr Olalekan Fadolapo, the Director General of the ARCON, disclosed this at a recent Advertising Standard Panel Stakeholders’ Forum in Lagos.

He noted that the move was aimed at promoting local content, maintaining industry integrity, and driving economic development.

According to Fadolapo, the forum discussed ethical standards and compliance with advertising laws within the industry.

He said, “The regulatory body has declared the prohibition of such materials surrounding the proliferation of computer-generated imagery in advertising. It has stressed the need for advertising agencies to provide verifiable information of Nigerian models featured in campaigns.”

He added that the intention was to ensure the protection of local talents and preserve Nigeria’s national interests.

Fadolapo emphasised the importance of stakeholders in the advertising sector acquainting themselves with the Nigerian Code of Advertising.

“This familiarity is crucial to understanding regulatory obligations, ensuring compliance, and following guidelines before submitting their materials for review,” he expounded.

He emphasised the importance of self-regulation and adherence to copyright laws within the advertising industry to foster ARCON’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for promoting ethical advertising standard practices.

He vowed that ARCON would continue to curb advertising violations and enforce regulatory measures on all digital platforms.

In her keynote address, the Chairman of the Advertising Standard Panel, Mrs Omowunmi Owodunni, stated that lack of ethics had made practitioners and stakeholders not comply with the ambits of the law.

“For our advertising industry to meet international standards, practitioners must be decent and legal in our approach,” she maintained.

Owodunni cautioned against the unauthorised proliferation of digital advertisements, emphasising that the regulatory body would take strict action against individuals and organisations engaged in such illegal activities.

“During the vetting process, third-party and independent assessments with verifiable information are necessary to support advertising claims,” she noted.

Owodunni further clarified that although the advertising code undergoes periodic reviews, creative content must adhere to legal standards, be substantiated, and be sensitive to laws.

On her part, the Director of Regulations, ARCON, Mrs Martha Onyebuchi, lamented that a lot of advert materials were full of misinformation that could not be substantiated.

She noted that practitioners would be penalised for such unethical behaviour. According to Onyebuchi, stakeholders should uphold the law and not breach it.

“ARCON is not regulating to strangle the advertising industry but to promote creativity and support local content,” Onyebuchi added.

In a recent gathering, organized by 234Finance, key stakeholders and HNIs came together to discuss the theme “Fueling Progress in the South East.”

The conversation highlighted the rich heritage, entrepreneurial spirit, opportunities for growth and the potential of the South East to be economic powerhouse.

During the discussion, the Managing Partner of 234Finance, Ezinne Nwazulu unveiled plans for an upcoming event of significant impact: the 4-week intensive SME Bootcamp and Mentor Matchup Challenge South East edition designed to empower SMEs. The program aims to empower SMEs with the knowledge, tools, and capital for rapid expansion and global competitiveness.

This initiative is building on the success of previous Mentor Matchup Challenge events, which equipped SMEs with actionable strategies and one-on-one mentorship, resulting in winners of the pitching competition securing grant funding to scale their businesses by 4x-10x.

The SME Bootcamp will feature an array of activities, including physical and virtual training sessions, onsite industrial training, and a pitching competition.

Ezinne Nwazulu emphasized the rigorous selection process, where the top 100 applicants meeting the criteria will undergo intensive training at two training centres in Abia and Anambra. From there, the most promising 15 participants will have the opportunity to pitch their business for grant funding.

Dr Chima Anyaso, Chairman of Caades Group, expressed his commitment to the region’s development and encouraged entrepreneurs with innovative crafts to seize this opportunity.

Criteria for selection are uncompromising, emphasizing technical expertise in core sectors; Agribusiness, Manufacturing, Supply Chain & Logistics, Fashion & Textile, and Retail, with a particular focus on businesses operating within the South-East region for at least three years and significant growth potential of 4x-10x.

The Bootcamp is set to commence from May 14 to June 14 2024 with Southeast-based entrepreneurs encouraged to visit the 234finance bootcamp to apply.

Dufil Prima Foods, makers of Indomie instant noodles, in partnership with the Human Rights and Grassroots Development Society, extended its goodwill to the shores of Abeokuta, Ogun state, at a product distribution event on Tuesday 24 April, where cartons of Indomie noodles were distributed to the underprivileged, as part of its ongoing efforts to support families worst hit by the ongoing economic hardship.

The event which saw a thousand vulnerable families go home with a carton of Indomie each, individuals present were also provided with cooked noodles to help relieve their immediate hunger.

The outreach had in attendance members of the disabled community, orphans, widows, the elderly, pregnant women, and vulnerable families.

The outreach is in alignment with the brand’s goal to feed two million consumers across various cities and communities in Nigeria, by collaborating closely with recognized NGOs to ensure that only the most vulnerable persons in the various cities and communities are invited and given a carton of Indomie and a fresh bowl of the nourishing tasty noodles.

The event was graced with the presence of notable dignitaries including the representative of the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development in Ogun State, Mrs. Wonuola Kassim; the Ogun State Chapter Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Hammeed-Bello Aderinola; a representative of the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Superintendent Adeoye Adejoke Asake; the Chairman of the Ogun State Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Venerable (Dr.) Samson Kunle Popoola, Chairman of the Peace Initiative Network, Dr. Femi Sodipo , and Trace PRO, CDR. Babatunde Akinbiyi, amongst others.

Mrs. Wonuola Kassim in her keynote address, commended the efforts of Dufil Prima Foods Ltd, and acknowledged that this was not the company’s first CSR initiative as she recalled that it had embarked on a similar venture in 2020.

“This program cannot be more timely than a time like this, when to feed becomes very difficult for most people. This is the kind of gesture which would linger for ages in the hearts of the beneficiaries. The objective of the palliative distribution is to alleviate the hardship faced by the citizens due to the recent removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government”, she said.

Speaking in the same vein, Popoola of the PCRC said: “We believe in PCRC that food security and eradication of hunger will go a long way in reducing the level of criminality in our society. What we have seen today is a conscious effort on the part of the organisers to see to the eradication of poverty, eradication of hunger and to support the food security initiative of the Government”.

Other dignitaries present also expressed their gratitude for Indomie and the organisers of the event, the Human Rights and Grassroots Development Society. They commended their efforts for taking the right steps to ensure that families across the country are catered for in these challenging times.

Indomie Instant Noodles remains steadfast in its quest to provide satisfaction and put smiles on the faces of families across Nigeria.