ABUJA- The Director-General, Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr Jibrin Baba Ndace, says, he is committed, determined, desirous and focused to position the station to be the authentic and authoritative voice of telling the Nigerian stories.
Ndace stated this when he inspected the transmitter and other facilities of the agency at Lubge in Abuja on Wednesday.
He explained that the VON facilities at Lugbe had always been in his mind, adding that some of the retired staff had told him of the need to leverage on the facilities to position the radio station.
The DG further explained that as an apostle of convergence, with background from the print and later broadcasting, he would ensure the enhancement of global best practice in terms of digitalisation in the information technology in VON.
He added that, in spite of that, it was necessary to leverage on that advantage and also hold on to all those traditional platforms and enhance them again with traditional tool of information technology.
“So I’m here to close the gap, see for myself and also want the world to know that VON plays a critical role in telling the Nigerian story to the world.
“I know we have challenges and we are not going to shy away from them, President Bola Tinubu and Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, brought me here to address them.
“We will look at the challenge and see how we can get it done through medium and long term solutions. I am not here to re-invent the wheels. You have everything that you need to reposition VON.
“I am so excited with the quality of manpower I inherited. I see the passion and drive to see this place work again. That kept propelling me. This has put a positive burden on me to do something positive.
“I want to assure all Nigerians that I am determined, focused and desirous to reposition VON to be truly the authoritative and authentic voice of Nigeria and Africa.
“We are going to tell Nigerians story without being shy about it. We have the opportunity to tell the Nigeria story in an assertive and definitive manner and be proactive,” Ndace said.
He further explained that VON would not only tell the stories on the administration of President Bola Tinubu, but stories of Nigeria and Nigerians. Stories of our diversity, difference and how we can leverage on that as a country that everybody could visit.
The VON boss said that one of the challenges he discovered was about perception of the agency by the people.
“People don’t know VON the way it is supposed to be, because, we have not really positioned it to take up its mandate. My desire and commitment is to get VON back to that mandate of being the voice of Nigeria and Africa.
“If you don’t tell your story, nobody will tell it for you. So, I’m going to start from VON. I want all the staff of the agency to be very proud of the brand VON, then we go on and on,” Ndace said.
He urgesd VON reporters or staff to always conduct themselves wherever they find themselves, adding that they should know that they were representing a big brand.
“So, I hope this is only possible with your support,” Ndace told the staff. (NAN)
