The Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mallam Jibrin Baba Ndace, has reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to amplifying African voices and fostering regional unity through broadcasting. He declared that the continent’s collective voice is strongest when Africans speak for and with one another.
Extending warm goodwill to the people of Southern Africa as member states mark the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Day, Mallam Ndace described the occasion as a reminder of the shared aspirations for peace, development and integration across the region.
Ndace emphasised that as Nigeria’s external broadcasting service, VON plays a unique role in telling Nigeria’s story while amplifying African perspectives to the world.
“Voice of Nigeria currently broadcasts in English, French, Arabic, Swahili and Nigeria’s major languages—Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo and Fulfulde. This multilingual approach reflects our commitment to cultural inclusion, diversity and the Pan-African vision of unity in diversity,” the VON boss explained.
He highlighted the growing impact of VON’s Swahili service, which strengthens connections with East and Southern African audiences. According to him, partnerships with the Tanzanian Broadcasting Corporation (TBC) and the Tanzanian High Commission in Nigeria have been instrumental in training VON staff in Swahili and deepening regional collaboration.
The Director General further unveiled plans to expand broadcasts to more Southern African languages, including Portuguese, Afrikaans, and Zulu. He stressed that this initiative will enable VON to connect with wider audiences across the continent in languages that resonate with their cultural identities and lived experiences.
Mallam Ndace reiterated VON’s readiness to collaborate with other African countries and media organisations, stressing that cooperation is vital to building a robust, inclusive African media ecosystem.
“On this important journey, we reaffirm our commitment to media diplomacy, mutual understanding and the power of language in building lasting connections,” he said.
