By Abdulfatah Babatunde
Malam Jibrin Baba Ndace, the Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON) says his management will use all the station’s platforms to tell positive narratives within and beyond the country.
Ndace gave the pledge in an exclusive interview with TheNewsZenith at the station’s Broadcast House, on Wednesday, in Ikoyi, Lagos.
Speaking on his vision and preparedness to grow the nation’s External Broadcast Service, the DG said he was “very clear about want he wanted’’ and what he set out to achieve.
“I was very sure that I was going to confront challenges, being an industry player myself. I knew some of those challenges of VON and all broadcast outfits and public broadcast platforms.
“The first major challenge is the place of VON within public broadcast institutions. And even among media organisations in the country.
“I am very clear about what I needed to do differently to reposition VON. And I discovered that VON as a public broadcast institution even has a perception challenge.
“So, one of the things that I set out from day one to do, is to reposition VON. I will reach out to partners in Nigeria and across the world,’’ Ndace said.
He also spoke on the need to activate and build new partnerships. And collaborations with similar organisations both in Nigeria and around the world.
“ I realise that one of the strengths of VON is actually in partnership and collaborations with similar organisations.
“One of the things I also discovered is that the morale of personnel was low. And I am determined to prop up the welfare of the personnel as well as management staff.
“ Indeed, I am looking at work opportunities and training for our workforce.’’
As a reporter, the DG said he discovered that “one major challenge facing Nigeria is the issue of perception.
“How we are perceived around the world and when you travel, either as a private citizen or as a government official, how you are treated is largely dependent on how the nation that you visit, perceives you.
“So, I discovered that the role of Voice of Nigeria is even more germane than ever before in terms of creating positive narratives about Nigeria and Nigerians, Africa and Africans.’’
According to him, there is no country on earth that one goes to and wouldn’t find Nigerians who are doing well.
“But the narratives that go out about Nigeria are sometimes zero to five per cent of Nigerians …..
“So, as Director-General, working with my team, I’m determined to use all our platforms to unleash positive narratives about Nigeria.
“ This is despite counter fake news and misinformation and disinformation about the country.
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“We are not saying that Nigeria is a perfect country; no country in the world is, including the more developed countries.
“There are good Nigerians, there are also some Nigerians that are not very good,’’ Ndace said.
According to him, many economies of the world cannot survive without the human resources of Nigeria.
“You go to the USA, how many Nigerians are there? The richest Diasporas there are Nigerians.
“ You go to the UK, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Germany, all over the world. No continent you wouldn’t find Nigerians in all professions.
“Who is telling these positive stories? We need to be very deliberate, intentional to create believable and truthful narratives about our country. And I want the Voice of Nigeria to lead in these engagements.
He recalled that in the last six months of his administration, VON management has been reaching out to agencies and embassies all over where Nigeria has existing partnerships.
“ As you know, we broadcast in eight languages; four local and four international…….
“So, I will, working with my team, to help change narratives.
“For instance, the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has taken many courageous and positive steps to reposition our economy. Let the world know!
“We must be very deliberate about telling those stories and the good things that are happening.
“If positive things are happening about Nigeria within and outside the country, who will tell the stories?
“Voice of Nigeria under my leadership; working with my team, I want to take the lead in telling Nigeria and African stories.
“I intend to bring back the credibility that VON has always enjoyed in Nigerian and around the world, by leading in terms of telling stories of Nigeria and Africa.’’
Going forward, he said he would continue to expand the VON’s horizon.
“For instance, looking at the global trend, I intend to also start broadcast in Mandarin and also Baiza Indonesia and Portuguese because of our influence within the Gulf of Guinea….’’ He said.
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