Segun Arinze, the President of the Association of Voice-Over Artists (AVOA), has applauded the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) for outlawing the usage of foreign models and voice actors in any form of advertising beginning on October 1, 2022.

In a press release on Monday, Olalekan Fadolapo, director-general of ARCON, warned that no foreign performer or model should be used for any Nigerian commercial material.

This was done to motivate the modelling and advertising industry in Nigeria to work harder at a time when models are quickly moving abroad in search of greener pastures.

Fadolapo stated:

“All advertisements and advertising and marketing communications materials are to make use of only Nigerian models and voice over artistes.”

Arinze reacted to the news by saying it is a positive move that will help the local economy continue to grow.

“We say this is a welcome development. It’s an enabling regulation that favours the local industry especially at a time when Nigeria is in dire need of sufficient platforms for its teeming youth population.

This is a clear demonstration of responsiveness on the part of ARCON. It is now left to us in the various Guilds and Associations to put our acts together and ensure that Nigeria is not only capable of filling all gaps, but the capacity to project these talents to the world.

For us at the association of Voice Over Artistes (AVOA) Nigeria, it’s a new dawn and we are already at work on how to position our members to fill those gaps.”