OAAN Seeks Increased Cooperation with State Governments

Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN) will be happy to see improved mutual relationship with state governments and their agencies, President of OAAN, Mr. Tunde Adedoyin has said. At an Extraordinary General Meeting held recently in Abeokuta, Ogun State Mr Adedoyin said: “OAAN members should continue to be at the right side of the law so as to distinguish themselves as professionals. The relationship between OAAN, state governments and regulators has continued to improve over the years and we intend to keep it that way.” 

The President talked extensively on challenges and benefits in states such as Edo, Lagos, Kaduna, Cross River, Enugu, Anambra and Abuja and said the association is discussing with the authorities in the states to ensure mutual understanding.

Major stakeholders in outdoor advertising industry deliberated on issues affecting OAAN, its members and how to create a balance between operations and regulations as it affects the profession in Nigeria.

State governments seeking to attract investments invited OAAN members to invest in their states with Cross River leading the scramble. Director General of Cross River State Signage and Agency (CRISSAA), Mr. Stanley Nsemo, gave OAAN members so many incentives that he got a standing ovation after delivering his paper titled: ‘Sustainable Partnership for Economic Development.”

Some of the incentives include discounted charges on processing fees and sites fees, direct reduced labour cost, income tax of 30% in all sectors, tax holidays of five years in urban areas and seven years in rural areas, investment in infrastructure attracts 20% tax holiday on cost of facilities, Industries with local value-addition enjoy 10% tax concession of up to five years and additional incentives for businesses in the free trade zones.

Director General of Oyo State Signage and Advertisement Agency (OYSAA), Mr. Babs Fagade, who is also a member of OAAN, promised to remove all illegal structures affecting outdoor advertising for value creation. He also promised to implement the design of Oyo State outdoor master plan and flexible payment plan for 25% permit fee already agreed on vacant sites.

The Extraordinary General Meeting was part of a three day CEO’s Retreat that hosted a large turnout of outdoor advertising practitioners and regulators from all over the country.

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7Up, Music Stars Rock at Felabration 2015

The memories of iconic Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti continues to linger among music lovers and aficionados all over the world as this year’s Felabration ended at the weekend amidst pomp and pageantry.

Felabration is the annual music and entertainment concert which started in 2000 and dedicated to the ideals of Fela who died in August 2 1997. The weeklong celebration which was sponsored by another iconic brand 7Up took place mainly inside the African Shrine, Ikeja- Lagos. With many activities within the week like a debate for Senior Secondary Schools titled “Poverty is Not an Accident like Slavery and Apartheid, a Symposium, a drama titled “Fela Son of Kuti”.

R-L: Afrobeat King, Femi Kuti; Head of Marketing, Seven-Up Bottling Company Plc; Norden Thurston, CEO, Trace Urban Nigeria, Samuel Onyemelukwe; Raul Sunil and other guests

Tuface Idibia on stage

Ghetto Soldier, Daddy Showkey performing

Felabration 2015 tagged “Just Like That” started on Monday October 12 and ended on Sunday October 18 and attracted international icons such as: the elegant Seyi Shay; ‘Rainmaker’, Majek Fashek; sonorous Tuface Idibia, ‘Lagos Jam crooners’, Third World; the ‘Chairman’ MI; songstress Sandra Izsadore; Ghetto Soldier, Daddy Showkey; king of Afrobeat, Femi Kuti and London based London Afrobeat.

Seyi Shay got the audience singing along

Femi Kuti thrilling the crowd

International group, Third World wowing the massive crowd with hit tracks

Others are Yemi Alade, who continued her “search” for ‘Johnny’; Afrobeat Prince, Seun Kuti, dancehall MC, General Pype amongst many other acts that performed at the 7Up sponsored Felabration.

The massive crowd at the shrine could fill up a standard football stadium with many fans outside who couldn’t get in but still remained as they enjoyed ice cold 7Up and also got 7Up branded T-shirts with pictures of Fela on it.

Audience

Audience

Yemi Alade still searching for “Johnny” at Felabration

According to the Head of Marketing, Seven-Up Bottling Company, Mr. Norden Thurston ”Fela is an international brand who made a difference in this world with his music and 7Up is an international brand that continues to make a difference in the live and passion of people globally through music, education and sports.”

London Afrobeat, showed how universal Afrobeat music has become

Up and coming artistes performing on the big stage

One of the highlights of the festival was the return of ‘Rainmaker’, Majek Fashek who did not disappoint teeming fans as they screamed with excitement with every tune the legend sang in reminiscence of the musician’s hay days. 

Audience

DJ

Seyi Shay was another standout performer on Sunday with her song “Crazy”, a duet with Wizkid who wasn’t on stage with her but the audience sang along with Seyi from start to finish giving the song a new feel.

Femi Kuti thanked everyone who had a hand in the success story of Felabration, his elder sister Yeni Kuti who is the brainchild of Felabration and Seven-Up Bottling Company Plc who have over the years been supporting Africa’s biggest celebration of any entertainment icon, Felabration.