A team of management staff of Sony
International in Abuja on Thursday apologised to Nigeria on a recent television
advertisement which portrayed the country in bad light.
The Managing Director of Sony, Gulf-Mid-East and Africa, Osamu Miura, who
led a team from the company to the Minister of Information and Communications, Dora
Akunyili, said the company had since withdrawn the advert.
The advertisement, sponsored by Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. (SCEA)
on Sept. 1, on the new Play Station 3, was broadcast only in the US and Canada.
"Immediately after learning that it contained statements that might have
offended some individuals, SCEA took steps to discontinue the advertisement.
"By Sept. 7, all replacement work was completed and the original advertisement
has not been aired,'' he said.
Mr. Miura said the company was "committed to respecting human rights,
appreciating diversity and conducting business activities with fairness and
integrity.
"Nigeria and Nigerian people are very important to us.''
Responding, Mrs. Akunyili said although Nigeria welcomed the apology, Sony
should rephrase the words of the formal letter addressed to her on the
matter.
"I have some reservations about that apology but apology is apology because the
apology says there are some people who are offended.
"We made a statement from the Nigerian Government, we are offended and the good
people of this country are offended.
''But the apology (letter) says there may be some people who are offended.
"I don't want to say we reject the apology but I want to say that we want that
apology rewritten, it has to be clear enough for Nigerians to feel comfortable
with it,'' she said.
The minister warned that the Federal Government would no longer tolerate the defamation
of the country's name or nationals from any group.
Similarly, she complained that the country was unhappy with District 9, a
movie, which Sony Corporation was distributing.