Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian Prisoners' Information Office: Four of his ribs were broken
Palestinian Prisoners' Information Office: Marwan al-Barghouti lost consciousness after a brutal assault by Israeli occupation soldiers
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli violations in the Gaza Strip have not stopped, and just a short while ago, fishermen came under fire from boats
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli occupation forces carry out a large explosion in the eastern neighborhood of the town of Mays al-Jabal in southern Lebanon.
Israeli media: Israeli political leadership decides to open Rafah crossing “as planned” and transfer aid to Gaza Strip.
Palestinian media: Three Palestinians were killed after being targeted by Israeli drone fire in the al-Shujaiya neighborhood east of Gaza City
Nicolas Maduro: The Palestinian cause is the most sacred cause for humanity, and we propose sending teams of builders, farmers, and doctors to Gaza to help the people
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Lebanon: IOF infiltrate Khallet Wardeh towards the municipality in the town of Aita al-Shaab, south of Lebanon.
Leaders of the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey sign a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
Trump arrives in Sharm el-Sheikh

Nigeria becomes first nation to ban white models in commercials

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 27 Aug 2022 23:08
  • 58 Shares
3 Min Read

All advertisements, advertising, and marketing communications materials are to make use of only Nigerian models and voiceover artists, according to the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria.

  • x
  • An ad for modeling auditions in Nigeria featuring four white women and one black woman
    An ad for modeling auditions in Nigeria featuring five women, only one of whom is black

Nigerian ads will have to rely solely on local models and voiceover artists in the future, the African nation’s government announced this week. The policy changes will come into force on October 1. 

“All advertisements, advertising, and marketing communications materials are to make use of only Nigerian models and voiceover artists,” the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) said in a statement on Tuesday. Current advertising campaigns using foreign talents will be allowed to continue but no new permits for similar campaigns will be issued by the relevant authorities, the government agency added. 

The move is consistent with the government’s policy of “developing local talent, including economic growth” and supporting the local advertising industry, the statement said. Nigeria was previously heavily reliant on foreign models and voiceover specialists in its ads, including white models and voiceovers with British accents, according to sources. 

The government has been combating such tendencies for quite some time. It previously demanded that companies attracting foreign talents should pay a 100,000 naira (around $240) tariff for any foreign model used in an ad, sources said. 

Related News

US arms sale to Nigeria raises human rights concerns: RS

Gaza humanitarian aid and the politics of narrative management

“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,” Steve Babaeko, the head of the Nigerian advertising association, told sources. Multinational corporations like Coca-Cola or LG relied on their global ad campaigns in Nigeria, which also featured white models. 

According to Babaeko, the new regulation is just “catching up” with the national sentiment. “People will tell you, ‘There are about 200 million of us. Are you telling me you could not find indigenous models for this commercial?’” he said.

Nigerian TV presenter, Bolanle Olukanni, said it is also about competition between the African nations since many ads demonstrated in Africa are shot in Kenya and the Republic of South Africa. Nigerian agencies would now have to shoot their ads locally, she said, adding that “no one will fly 10-15 models to South Africa.” 

ARCON head Olalekan Fadolapo also defended the regulation by saying that “advertising should resonate with the people.”

“How do you think it will resonate if we keep using foreign artists?” he asked, adding that other African nations have imposed a de facto ban on foreign models in ads but just do not turn such bans into official regulations. 

Read more: Bella Hadid 'willing to risk modelling career' for Palestinian cause

  • Nigeria
  • black models
  • advertising industry

Most Read

Iran strikes secret Israeli-US bunker under Tel Aviv high-rise

Tel Aviv high-rise struck by Iran hid Site 81, secret US-Israeli base

  • Politics
  • 14 Oct 2025
Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jaafarawi in an undated image in Gaza, occupied Palestine (Social media)

Gaza Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jafarawi killed by collaborators

  • Politics
  • 12 Oct 2025
drop site

New report details extensive Israeli arson in Gaza after ceasefire

  • Politics
  • 13 Oct 2025
Illustration of fists breaking shackles, representing the liberation of Palestinian detainees from Israeli prisons. (Illustrated by: AL Mayadeen English/Batoul Chamas)

4 prominent Palestinian detainees to be freed: Who are they?

  • Palestine
  • 13 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
UK extends jet patrols over Poland as NATO builds ‘drone wall’
Politics

UK extends jet patrols over Poland as NATO builds ‘drone wall’

Thousands trapped in El Fasher siege on ‘edge of survival': Report
Politics

Thousands trapped in El-Fasher siege on ‘edge of survival': Report

Trump links aid to Milei’s midterm success, blackmailing Argentinians.
US & Canada

Trump 'extorts' Argentinians, links aid to Milei’s midterm success

Six foreigners barred as US polices speech on Charlie Kirk
Politics

6 foreigners' visas revoked as US polices speech on Charlie Kirk

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS