Stop engaging non-licensed voice-over artistes - AVOA warns public

AVOA President, Mr. Ehi Omokhuale (Second right); Provost AVOA and co-presenter of Goge Africa, Isaac Moses; Former Finance Director, AVOA, Obiageli Molobe (First right) and Deaconess Yemi Oluwadaisi (First left)

As part of their new reforms, the Association of Voice Over Artistes (AVOA) Nigeria, has called on the general public to stop engaging non-licensed voice-over artistes in the performance of advertising related functions.

During a press conference cum picnic organized by the members of AVOA, the association’s President, Ehi Omokhuale, said, the association, by virtue of its affiliation with the Advertising Practitioners of Nigeria (APCON), is the only statutorily recognized umbrella body for voice-over practice in Nigeria.

He emphasized that AVOA is a body of professionals registered under incorporated Trustees of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He revealed some of their duties by saying that: “Our members provide voice work on broadcast advert materials, Interactive Voice Response (IVR), Ring Back Tones (RBT), computer software, documentaries, cartoons, radio drama and other voice related works in the advertising and allied industries.

“Embarking on a systematic reform of the Advertising practice, APCON inaugurated a committee on the reforms on Wednesday, December 22, 2010. The council had invited all sectoral heads, including AVOA, to various fora on the issue at different times. This culminated in the submission of memoranda by the sectoral heads in January 2011.

“Recognising voice-over as a necessary specialized arm of the advertising profession, and categorizing it as advertising service providers, APCON formally mandated AVOA in writing on November 28, 2014, to streamline, sanitize and effectively coordinate the activities of the professionals engaged in voice-over practice. In the same vein, voice-over artistes who desire to be licensed to engage in professional advertising practice in the category of ‘Advertising Service Providers’ will henceforth apply through AVOA for APCON registration according to the laid down Window-A procedure,” Omokhuale explained.

He added that AVOA’s legal solicitors, Napoleon, Sandra & Co has asked their clients, in writing, to partner with them by discouraging the use of quacks and non-licensed voice-over artistes in the performance of advertising related functions.

“The implication of this is that only AVOA members and APCON-licensed persons can carry out voice-overs and advertising related services for clients. This is aimed at regulating the list of her bonafide members to APCON on a quarterly basis,” he added.

Commenting on some of the advantages of being a member of AVOA, he said: “AVOA provides an enabling job environment for its members to thrive and provides the right cover for them whenever they are in distress. AVOA organizes yearly voice-over training and re-training workshops for her members, with the aim of enhancing the members’ skills and serving our clients better.

“It is pertinent to stress here that with the ongoing reforms, it would now be an offence punishable under the relevant Laws to engage the services of a non-licensed person to carry out voice-overs and ancillary functions. And as a statutorily recognized body, AVOA would do all that is within the legal parameters to ensure that such offenders are brought to books. A special monitoring mechanism has been set up for picketing purposes,” he emphasized.

Also speaking, the Provost, AVOA and co-presenter of popular TV culture show Goge Africa, Mr. Isaac Moses, said that when he was growing up, whatever one hears on radio was standard but it’s not same today. That is why we want to sanitize the industry.”

In the same vein, Former Finance Director, AVOA, Obiageli Molobe, stated that that when people want to belong to a particular association, what comes into their minds is the money they will make. “But what we were getting when we started this job was nothing to write home about. When you have passion for something, anything you do gives you joy without having regrets or sentiment. But you have to prove yourself. It is your perfection in delivery that will create the opportunity for you to be called again. You have to deliver it on time and must be humble to learn.”

AVOA members meet on quarterly basis, though there are some emergency meetings. Those interested to become AVOA members are asked to visit the association’s office at No.1 Okanlawon Street by Masha, Surulere, Lagos or contact the President on 08023149482.
The event with a light picnic took place in a bonding and friendly atmosphere at La Campagne Tropicana, Ikeja, Lagos, during which AVOA members, advertising industry executives, Independent producers, advert producers, friends of AVOA and the Press made merry, freely interacted and exchanged views on issues that bind them.