Digital Switch Over: Kano Govt Supports Households

As the Digital Switch over Project of the Nigerian government comes alive in the ancient city of Kano, the state government has at subsidized rate supported 100,000 indignant and poor households across the 44 local government area of the state.

The state Governor Dr. Umar Ganduje stated this at the launch of the Digital Switch Over project at the Coronation Hall, Government House, Kano.

He said the subsidy, considering the prevailing economic situation, will aid easy penetration of the innovation in households especially the rural areas who cannot easily afford it.

He said over 100 technicians have also been trained to install the facilities for them and sensitize the people on digital Switch Over for easy acceptability.

“Kano state government is partnering with one of the licensed companies to support indignant and poor households across the 44 local government areas in the state for the provision of 100,000 units subsidized Free TV set box, beginning with 10,000 units for the first phase of the supply.

“Accordingly, 700 set boxes will be supplied to the 114 ministries, Departments and Agencies. 70 to the 15 tertiary institutions in the state 1,450 units for senior secondary Schools, assistants and aides. I have also directed for the supply of 44,000 units to the 44 LGAs, i.e 100 per LGA for distribution to Primary Healthcare centers, community viewing centers, education authorities, primary and basic schools as well Local government Councils.

“We are also in collaboration with the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, for the training of over 100 Technician, installers and those who will sensitize others about what the DSO is all about,” said Governor Ganduje.

He said the DSO is more important in Kano as it’s is the most populous and second biggest commercial city in Nigeria with over 2 million TV Households.

He said the innovative Technology project will increase deliverable in governance across the state as well as enhance the dissemination of the rich cultures of the north to local, National and International audience and  encourage fair competition with the Nollywood of the southern Nigeria, which has come of age.

He explained that it is an opportunity for the entertainment industry to Key into modern technology and create employment opportunities using local content.

“The platform can be used to broadcast activities of the Kano state government and also help advertisers to target  which Programmes are being watched by viewers.

“Let me assure people of Kano that you will reap the benefits of the of Free TV, therefore you should grab the opportunities on the platform which provides about 60 channels almost for free, once the one year subscription is paid

“When local talents meet the need of Nigerians it will endear TV Stations to viewers and subsequently improve patronage for advertorials as well as creative talents, advertising agencies, TV Channels and digital distributors.

“I will therefore charge the relevant stakeholders and content developers to make sure that the content serve the people better, people who are generally glued to Internet or smartphone doing all sorts of interaction,

“We have to face squarely the challenges posed by social media and simplify the content in the competing space for information dissemination.”

“Federal government should be proactive in easing the ways towards digital content development in order to properly police the industry because of the inherent opportunities that will be met in the new creative and entertainment industry,” stated Ganduje.

The Director-General National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, Balarabe Illelah said Kano was an indispensable hub in the Digital Switchover considering the huge population of state and the ability of the project to create jobs for the teeming youths as well as the opportunity to enjoy near free services.

“Kano was specifically fingered as one of the key strategic States for the programme to be launched considering the compelling need for embracing the new concept courtesy of the prevailing digital drive all over the globe.”

The Digital Switch over project had earlier been launched first in Jos Plateau state, then Lagos, Port Harcourt, Abuja, the nation’s capital among others as the nation targets December, 2021 for the whole country to be switched over to the Digital platform.