Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has urged the management of Voice of Nigeria (VON), the country’s external radio broadcaster, to promote the positive image of the country as part of efforts to unlock needed investments in Africa’s most populous nation.
The minister was speaking when the Management of VON led by the Director General, Malam Baba Jibrin Ndace, paid him a courtesy visit at his office in Abuja.
Idris told the delegation to convey the message of hope, prosperity, friendliness and co-operation that the new government of President Bola Ahmed Tinibu stands for.
“Nigeria is on its path to glory, provided that all of us come round the government, come round the policies, and queue behind the president in his quest to take Nigeria to the prosperity that all of us desire it to be,” he said.
The minister assured VON that his office and the President would help it overcome the challenges it faces, such as a tight budget and a need for technological upgrade.
He said that VON had the duty to manage Nigeria’s perception outside the country, and that it had to change the narrative and re-shape the story about the country.
“We cannot be talking about negatives in this country. So much positives are here, and we need to push those positives out and send them out to the international community so that they can come back here and invest,” the minister said.
Minister’s Support
Idris added that he would visit VON’s facilities in Abuja and Lagos to see how the government could also help it.
The minister also noted the need to collaborate and partner with other agencies and entities, stressing that VON had to find a balance between its traditional and digital forms of media, and that it had to be in tune with the time.
“We need to tell our story for the same reason that BBC has not closed shop. You know that there is value in that. The only thing is that you have to look at new ways and means of doing things. I know that you cannot be static. You have to embrace technology, you have to embrace the digital world,” he said.
Earlier, the Director-General of VON, Malam Jibrin Ndace, thanked the Minister for his support and guidance, and re-affirmed his commitment to VON’s mandate.
He said that he wanted to move Voice of Nigeria away from political communication and focus on the soft power of Nigeria, such as its culture, society and economy.
“We want to take VON back to its mandate,” the VON DG said.
He also said that he would follow the minister’s example of being truthful, sincere, proactive and credible, and that he would not deceive Nigerians or the international community.
“We are not going to tell Nigerians any lies. We are just going to tell the positive stories about Nigeria,” he said.
The DG pledged his loyalty to the minister and the President, and sought their support as he embarks on the process of transforming VON into a world class broadcaster.
About Voice of Nigeria
Voice of Nigeria (VON) is Nigeria’s official international broadcasting station. It began operation in 1961 as the External Service of the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), which later became the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN). It became an independent corporation in 1990, with its own mandate and powers.
VON’s mission is to provide radio broadcasting services for global reception in such languages and at such times as the corporation may specify, as a public service in the interest of Nigeria.
It also aims to ensure that its services reflect Nigeria’s views as a federation and give adequate expression to its culture, characteristics, affairs and opinions.
It currently broadcasts in eight languages of Arabic, English, French, Swahili, Fulfulde, Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba.
