VON DG Seeks Collaboration With Royal Fathers On Culture Promotion

By Yinka Salaam, Segun Adegoke, Rukayat Ojo

The Director General of Voice of Nigeria, VON, Mallam Jibrin Baba Ndace has called for greater collaboration between the organisation and traditional rulers, particularly in Southwest Nigeria for the promotion of indigenous festivals and other cultural activities.

Mallam Ndace said as media organisations like VON focus on positively shaping Nigeria’s narratives, traditional institutions should use their position to project Nigerian rich culture to the world.

The Director General who was on a courtesy visit to the traditional ruler of the ancient town of Osogbo, the Ataoja, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji emphasised the key role of the traditional rulers in projecting the nation’s positive stories, events and culture to the world.

He said “his visit to Osogbo was in line with the mission and vision of VON to project Nigeria’s positive image to the outside world through its rich culture and traditions which is synonymous with the ancient city of Osogbo.”

The Director General described Osogbo as the Cradle of Yoruba culture, saying, “the annual Osun Osogbo festival which celebrates Osun, the goddess of fertility and endorsed by UNESCO as a world heritage site needs to be further projected on the world tourism map.”

VON as Nigeria’s mouth piece

The DG highlighted VON’s status as the only medium in the country with the mandate to carry out international broadcasting, stressed its capacity to positively project the Nigerian positive stories.

He reiterated VON’s readiness to strategically position and promote festivals and other cultural activities of the Yoruba people to make them more prominent on the global tourism map.

“Voice of Nigeria was established by the wisdom of our founding fathers because of the special place of Nigeria in Africa and in the world; and since independence, VON has remained focused in shaping the positive narratives about Nigeria and Africa.

“VON has unapologetically showcased the various exciting and vibrant Nigerian cultures to the world.

“VON is the only station that broadcasts in eight different languages of Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, English, French, Arabic, Fulfude and Kiswahili, telling mainly Nigerian and African stories,” he said.

Choice of Osogbo

Mallam Ndace said he was on a drive to reposition VON for greater effectiveness, hence his tour of the Southwest Zonal Office in Osogbo to see how his vision could be better achieved.

He explained that the location of the Zonal Office in Osun State was due to its strategic place in the history of the Yoruba people and the beautiful cultural narratives that emanates from there.

He said; “Since my assumption of duty as the DG, I have been focusing on repositioning Voice of Nigeria, and part of my drive is to go down to meet with my staff and colleagues who are in the zonal offices within Nigeria and especially in Osogbo the Southwest Zonal office because of the historical position of the town.

“The town is not just for the Yoruba race, it is for the entire people of the world. I decided to visit you and I have also visited important places like the Osun Osogbo Sacred Grove endorsed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2005.”

The DG assured Oba Oyetunji of the availability of VON’s platform to promote the traditional institutions of the town and all other unique cultural activities of the people.

He said the purpose of such a collaboration would be to tell the good stories emanating from the state and also to present Osogbo as a tourism hub that people around the world will always desire to visit and experience.

He said; “I’m determined with my team to be deliberate and intentional about sharing good stories about Nigeria and Africa and the only way we can do it is to say that if you come to Nigeria and you come to Osogbo there is something special you can see.”

The Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Oyetunji lauded the DG’s effort to reposition VON as well as his commitment to promoting the culture and traditions of the people of Osogbo.

Oba Oyetunji prayed for the success of the DG, the Minister of Information, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Nigeria as a whole.

Mercy Chukwudiebere