Adedapo Adesanya
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has said that Nigeria will earn $2 billion in advertising within three years of the conclusion of the ongoing reform in the creative industry and advertising sector.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Information, Mr Lai Mohammed, in Abuja at a technical session of the Task Team on Audience Measurement inaugurated by the government.
Mr Mohammed said the N400 million the country was currently earning from advertising was unacceptable and reiterated the position of the task team to increase it to the targeted level.
He said with the conclusion of the reform process, the entire creative industry would never be the same again, commending the team’s efforts in ushering in a time of great prosperity for the entire creative sector.
“The metrics and data you will be putting together, the Standards of Practice on receipts and payments, and the media monitoring service powered by technology for real-time performance evaluation will create transparency and an enabling environment for all to thrive and be prosperous.
“What most, if not all have always asked for is a level playing field in our great country of more than 200 million people, over 500 radio and television channels, with at least 24 million TV households with the largest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Africa.
“I hear you are also working on a sustainable content development plan to ensure a win-win for Content Creators, Production companies and TV and radio broadcasters.
“This is music to my ears and is exactly what Mr President promised when we came into government – reforms that will touch and improve the lives of the common Nigerian man,” he said.
The Minister said that the reform process would also unlock the one million job opportunities in the potential of the creative industry.
He assured that the government would assist with required regulations and open the doors for funding donors to make the reform a success.
According to Mr Mohammed, the government will create a conducive business environment for all the international advertisers and agencies to rush to do business in the country.
The Chairman of the Task Team, Mr Tolu Ogunkoya, in his remarks, thanked the Minister for his vision and passion for the industry and for his presence at the technical session.
He assured that the committee would work hard to meet the November target for the completion of the exercise, noting that the practitioners, including members of the task team, would be the ultimate beneficiaries of the reform process.
Mr Ogunkoya said upon successful completion of the project with its multiplier effects on the industry, the name of Mr Mohammed would be written in gold.
