The Director General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON ), Mallam Jibrin Baba Ndace, has restated the agency’s desire to deepen cooperation with the Republic of Tanzania to tell Nigerian and African stories.
Ndace made this known Tuesday when he led the management staff of VON on a courtesy call on the Charge de Affaire of the Tanzanian Embassy in Nigeria, Ambassador Judica Naguwa, in Abuja. The DG thanked the Embassy for training its staff in Swahili, adding that he wants to work with the Embassy to make the Swahili section of VON more vibrant.
He said, “When you leave the boundaries created in Africa, we are one. We are one big family. First, I am here to thank you because, with your support, Swahili is one of the international languages that the Voice of Nigeria VON broadcasts. Thank you for the training that we enjoyed in Swahili.
“I want to assure you that, as director general, I am willing to deepen the relationship between VON and Tanzania. Consolidating existing relationships and partnerships is my core focus.
“VON’s success is the success of the African continent. When our founding fathers established VON, it was not just to speak for Nigerians but for Africa and Africans.”
He expressed his desire to work with the Tanzanian Embassy to fight fake news, misinformation, and disinformation through content sharing and exchange programmes.
He said: “You will agree with me, Your Excellency, that one of the challenges we face as a continent is the issue of fake news, misinformation and disinformation.
“Some sit in a corner, create false content about Nigeria, Tanzania, or Africa, and put it out there, and this affects the image of Africa. When we travel outside the continent, we are treated less because of the negative narratives created about us.
“As director general working with my team, I will be deliberate, truthful and unapologetic in telling Nigerian and African stories. We will not lie but ensure that positive stories about Nigeria, Tanzania and other African countries are projected to the world.”
In her remarks, Judica said the Embassy is ready to strengthen cooperation with VON to change negative narratives about Africa.
She said Tanzania is ready to implement the Memorandum of Understanding between Voice of Nigeria and Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC).
She said, “TBC has appointed someone for the exchange programme with VON, and they are willing to dispatch the person as soon as VON is ready to receive him.
