FG Pledges Policies to Boost Advertising, Creative Industries
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to policies and reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s advertising and creative industries as key drivers of economic growth, job creation and innovation.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated this on Thursday at the Advertising Industry Colloquium (AIC) 4.0 organised by the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) in Lagos.
Idris, who was represented at the event by the Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Jibrin Baba Ndace, said the Tinubu administration recognised the strategic importance of the advertising and creative ecosystem to Nigeria’s national development.
According to a statement by the Minister’s Special Assistant (Media), Rabiu Ibrahim, Idris said the Federal Government was implementing reforms to build a competitive digital economy capable of creating jobs, attracting investments and positioning Nigeria as Africa’s innovation hub.
“The Federal Government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, recognises the strategic importance of Nigeria’s creative and advertising ecosystem to national development. Our administration is implementing bold reforms to build a competitive digital economy capable of creating jobs, attracting investments and positioning Nigeria as Africa’s innovation hub,” he said.
The Minister noted that Nigeria’s expanding digital economy, supported by more than 170 million active telecommunications subscriptions and ongoing broadband infrastructure projects, was creating new opportunities for advertisers, content creators and digital entrepreneurs.
He described advertising as an industry that goes beyond promoting products, noting that it shapes culture, drives economic activity, supports businesses and contributes to national development.
Idris stressed the need to strike a balance between innovation and regulation, particularly as digital platforms and Artificial Intelligence continue to transform the advertising and creative industries.
He said responsible governance was necessary to ensure that technological innovation delivers sustainable benefits to the economy.
“Effective regulation is not an obstacle to growth; it is the foundation for sustainable development. A transparent and forward-looking regulatory framework builds investor confidence, protects consumers and promotes fair competition,” the Minister said.
Idris urged industry stakeholders to embrace innovation while safeguarding creativity, ethical standards and intellectual property rights.
He also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s willingness to collaborate with ARCON and other stakeholders to strengthen Nigeria’s position as Africa’s leading hub for responsible advertising, creative excellence and digital innovation.
By TimesNG