The Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation, TBC is collaborating with the Voice of Nigeria, VON, to promote Kiswahili in Nigeria.
The Ambassador of the High Commission of the United Republic of Tanzania, Mr Benson Bana, stated this when he paid a courtesy visit to the Director General, VON, Mr Osita Okechukwu, on Thursday.
Boosting ties
Mr Bana said this cooperation would enhance the learning and speaking of the Kiswahili language in Nigeria and boost relationship between the United Republic of Tanzania and the Federal republic of Nigeria.
“The relationship between Nigeria and Tanzania dates back to the colonial era, just two years ago, Kiswahili became the mother tongue of 15 countries, Tanzania, Uganda, Congo, Brazzaville, Zambia, Malawi and other east African Countries.
“Kiswahili is our Lingua Franca and it’s a language that can unite Africa, that can promote trade, tourism and investment,” Mr Bana said.
The Tanzanian Ambassador also presented two Kiswahili-English translation dictionaries to the Voice of Nigeria.
Expressing his gratitude at the gesture, the Director General of Voice of Nigeria, Mr Osita Okechukwu acknowledged that Kiswahili also known as the Bantu language is one of the most widely spoken language in Africa with over a 100 million speakers.
”This is why Kiswahili is one of the eight languages of Voice of Nigeria’s broadcast,” Mr Okechukwu said.
The others are English, French, Arabic, Fulfude, Hauwa, Igbo and Yoruba.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
