Voice of Nigeria (VON) is set to partner with the Indonesian Embassy in Nigeria to address misinformation, disinformation, and misconceptions affecting both countries in the global arena.
The Director-General of VON, Jibrin Baba Ndace, disclosed this while receiving the Indonesian Ambassador to Nigeria, Bambang Suharto, during a courtesy visit to the organisation’s headquarters in Abuja.
Malam Ndace said the visit underscores the growing bilateral relationship between Nigeria and Indonesia, noting that both nations share common values, cultural diversity, and a commitment to global cooperation.
“Both nations are vibrant, diverse, and culturally rich, bound by shared values, mutual respect, and a common vision for global cooperation,” he said.
He commended Indonesia’s founding fathers for their vision in fostering ties between Africa and Asia, adding that VON was similarly established as an external broadcasting service to project Nigeria’s image globally.
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The Director-General reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to promoting accurate, balanced, and culturally sensitive reporting, stressing the need for stronger collaboration in an era marked by the rapid spread of false information.
“We believe that partnerships such as this between Voice of Nigeria and Indonesian Embassy and by extension other media organizations in Indonesia will help to strengthen cooperation and help shape a more positive global narrative about our countries,” he added.
Ndace noted that information about countries like Nigeria and Indonesia is often filtered through third-party sources, which can distort realities, emphasizing the importance of direct engagement in storytelling.
“Indonesia holds a special place as one of the Asian most dynamic countries with a rich heritage, strong democratic institutions and a globally recognized Voice in international affairs, through the ASEAN and other platforms,” the Director General added.
He also highlighted VON’s current multilingual broadcasting in eight languages—Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, English, Fulfulde, French, Arabic, and Kiswahili—with plans underway to expand into Mandarin and Bahasa Indonesia.
“Voice of Nigeria will soon begin broadcasting in Bahasa which is the largest spoken language in Indonesia and other parts of Asia so that both countries can tell their stories to the world.
“These languages will enable us to reach diverse audiences across Africa and beyond, sharing Nigeria’s perspective with the global community. We are ready to work closely with the Embassy and government owned media organizations so that we can work through a partnership in content production and sharing,” he said.
Content Exchange to Combat Fake News
In his remarks, Ambassador Suharto pledged to strengthen collaboration between national radio stations in Indonesia and VON, particularly in the area of content exchange to combat misinformation and fake news.
He said efforts were already underway to deepen bilateral relations between Nigeria and Indonesia, especially in economic and political spheres.
The Ambassador noted that both countries share similar historical and demographic characteristics, with large populations and diverse cultures, making it essential for them to take control of their narratives.
He stressed that enhanced media cooperation would play a critical role in promoting accurate information and strengthening ties between the two nations.
“We have to focus on Nation building, one Nation, one goal to develop both countries together,” the Ambassador added.
Nigeria and Indonesia will celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations beginning 1965. Both countries at the moment have an opportunity to deepen their cooperation in the field of media and as well strengthen their relationship.