The Director General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Jibrin Baba Ndace, MNIPR, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to transforming the national broadcaster into a respected media institution across Africa and the globe.
During a courtesy visit from the newly elected leadership of the Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers’ Union (RATTAWU), headed by National President Comrade Prince Emeka Kalu, Ndace shared this vision at VON headquarters in Abuja. He underscored his focus on institutional reform, digital modernisation, and operational excellence, aiming to position VON as a significant force in national and international arenas.
The Director General welcomed the union officials and applauded their successful emergence following a lengthy 20-hour democratic election at the Seventh Quadrennial National Delegates Conference in Gombe. He characterised their success as a reflection of organised labour’s influence and capacity to transform public service.
Highlighting the achievements under his administration, Ndace expressed that VON is undergoing a renewal process to become a globally recognised pan-African broadcaster. This effort includes plans to enhance digital transformation and maintain relevance on the international stage.
With the backing of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, FNIPR, Ndace announced the revival of VON’s 250KW Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) transmitter. This indicates a return to shortwave broadcasting, which has been dormant for over a decade. This development will allow VON to broadcast to audiences across Africa and beyond.
Reflecting on the successful hosting of the first staff retreat in over ten years, he described it as a significant turning point for staff engagement. The retreat included strategic reflections and resulted in the signing of performance bonds with directors and professional development sessions on topics like artificial intelligence, corporate risk management, and content innovation.
Regarding international collaborations, Ndace pointed to renewed partnerships with broadcasting organisations in China, Tanzania, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Côte d’Ivoire. These relationships are pivotal to VON’s role as a connector between Africa and the global community. He also mentioned recent discussions with the Chinese Embassy about supporting Mandarin-language broadcasting as part of VON’s multilingual outreach.
His administration has established partnerships with key institutions, including the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), NIGCOMSAT, Galaxy Backbone, and Globacom, which are all contributing to digital advancement, enhancing staff capabilities, and boosting operational efficiency.
Ndace assured union leaders of his dedication to staff welfare, highlighting the timely payment of the thirteenth-month salary as a priority. He regarded the staff as VON’s greatest asset and explained that ongoing reforms are aligned with civil service regulations, focusing on tangible outcomes.
Addressing recent staff redeployments, he clarified that these actions were necessary administrative measures to realign the organisation following the outcomes of the Voice of Nigeria Management Retreat in 2024. Many staff members have reportedly welcomed the changes, embracing them with renewed commitment, recognising the importance of such reforms for long-term progress.
Speaking on the need for responsible engagement in unionism, Ndace encouraged RATTAWU to work collaboratively with management to safeguard worker rights while fostering innovation, restructuring, and performance-oriented governance.
He reasserted VON’s alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the strategic vision outlined by Honourable Minister Alhaji Mohammed Idris. Ndace committed to strengthening VON’s platforms, expanding partnerships, and investing personnel to further national interests.
Commending Comrade Kalu for his contributions to the media industry, particularly with the Anambra Broadcasting Service, Ndace expressed confidence that RATTAWU would become a credible ally in VON’s reform initiatives under Kalu’s leadership.
The Director General reiterated his strategic focus on People, Platform, and Partnership, exuding optimism that with shared goals and responsible leadership, the Voice of Nigeria will ascend to the status of a world-class public broadcaster in which the nation can take pride.
In response, Comrade Kalu praised Ndace for his visionary leadership, expressing gratitude for the warm reception and pledged the union’s steadfast support for VON’s reform efforts.
