The Director-General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mallam Jibrin Ndace, has called for a strategic partnership with the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC) to combat misinformation and project a positive image of Nigeria and its Armed Forces to the global community.
During a courtesy visit to the Director-General of NARC, Major General J.G.K. Myam (Retired) in Abuja, Ndace emphasised that in an “age of noise”, public institutions must deliberately tell their own stories to prevent distortion by external actors.
“Every institution must deliberately tell its own story, because others are busy telling theirs.
“We are very intentional about being the lead in telling positive stories about our armed forces and celebrating them for their gallantry,” Ndace stated.
The VON Director-General highlighted the organisation’s unique position as the only African broadcaster currently operating a rotating antenna with shortwave transmission capacity at its Lugbe station.
He said the technical restoration, supported by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, aims to reclaim 70 per cent of the West African audience that still relies on traditional radio.
Ndace reaffirmed VON’s editorial policy as “unapologetically pro-Nigeria,” stressing that the station would continue to provide a platform for individuals and institutions committed to building the nation rather than diminishing it.
In his remarks, the NARC Director-General reaffirmed the Centre’s commitment to collaborating with VON to promote national values and strengthen public perception of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
He noted that the relationship between the two organisations is built on a “credible and worthy” history, citing previous collaborations, including a media roundtable organised two years ago to promote better understanding between the military and the media.
The NARC boss explained that the Centre, established in 2015 as a centre of excellence for research-based security solutions, has expanded its mandate to include human capital development, an area where VON staff have already benefited from training programmes.
“Voice of Nigeria shapes perceptions about Nigerian values and culture across several languages. It is an organisation that should be supported and collaborated with at every opportunity,” Myam said.
The NARC Director-General also expressed appreciation for Ndace’s “congenial remarks” about the sacrifices made by military personnel.
He lamented the growing trend where isolated cases of misconduct by individuals are used to tarnish the reputation of the entire military institution, noting that such criticism often overlooks the daily risks taken by soldiers to ensure citizens can pursue their livelihoods without fear.
“It is touching to the heart because daily, officers and soldiers put themselves on the line. They are your children, brothers and sisters who have taken a solemn sacrifice,” The NARC Director-General said.
He commended VON for helping to clarify issues and promote the positive efforts of the military, which he said helps dispel the “cloud” of misunderstanding often held by the public.
Concluding the meeting, the NARC Director-General assured Ndace that the Centre remains open to further collaboration.
“We are just a phone call away. Our human capacity development programmes are open to you, and we are ready to expand them as you may desire,” he added.
