-Tamara’Shanay-

Cousins!

Beginning October 1st, Nigeria will make history as the first country to legally cut ties with all advertisement and marketing communications connected to white talent!

According to the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria, the country will only be able utilize local talents within their marketing campaigns. Ranging from modeling, acting and voiceovers, marketers will soon only be allowed to source native Nigerians.

Reports from Travel + Noire read that Nigeria previously relied on the talent of foreign models and voiceover experts in marketing. Only hiring white models and/or British voiceovers.

It has been stated that the government decided to make this major change in efforts of developing local talents and advancement in economic growth.

Nigerian government also charged companies close to $240 for utilizing foreign talent in their ADs.

“Ten to 20 years ago if you checked the commercials, I would say they were almost 50/50 in terms of foreign faces and all the voiceovers were British accents,” stated head of the Nigerian advertising association Steve Babaeko.

Cousins, what do you think of this new change? Should officials in other countries keep the same energy?