By Collins Yakubu-Hammer
The Director-General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Malam Jibrin Ndace, says the organisation is ready to partner with National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) to showcase the nation’s technological advancement.
Ndace stated this when he led his management team on courtesy visit to the Director-General of NADDC, Mr Oluwemimo Osanipin, in Abuja on Friday.
He commended Osanipin and his management staff, stressing that the policies of President Bola Tinubu were propelling development in the different sectors of the economy.
“It is good to have a clear narrative of the positive and right things that is happening in the country.
“I and my management team are here to seek partnership with you and tell you what we can offer to showcase the technological advancement and achievements you have made.
“The mission and vision of VON’s founding fathers is to shape the narrative of Nigeria and Nigerians, and Africa and Africans.
“We will be intentional and unapologetic about it, showcasing and shaping the narrative of the country and the citizens. The world needs to know about our successes and achievements.
“We do so in our broadcast in eight languages; four indigenous and four international like Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba and and Fulfulde, and also, English, French, Arabic and Swahili,” Ndace said.
The VON boss added that his organisation was making efforts to start broadcasting in Madari-China due to Chinese influence in African and also in Portuguese.
He said that VON was lucky because of President Bola Tinubu ‘s interest in the role of the media through the leadership of Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris.
“We are working on our short waves to ensure that we reach over ten million listeners. We also have a rotating antenna.
“We are here to seek partnership with you on what you are doing, because, you are maintaining world global best practices.
“We want to present our platform to you to showcase what you are doing and the technological advancement you are making. NADDC is very important,” Ndace reiterated.
Osanipin in his response said it was dangerous to allow someone to tell your story.
“We are indeed happy to partner with you, this is because, whatever one is doing, if one does not bring it out for people to see, one has done nothing.
“We want to collaborate with you to help project our activities, the Renewed Hope Agenda and actions we are taking.
“We are expectant of the benefits of what the partnership will bring to both of us; that is NADDC and VON,” Osanipin said.
According to him, the council implements policies base on seven pillars, which include attracting investments, development of the market, local content, safety and standards.
He said that this also included skill acquisition and domestication and technology transfer and innovations.
Osanipin further explained that NADDC worked with companies that assembled parts of machinery and automotive, adding that it also trained indigenous engineers.
“This year, we want more investments in our industrial plant in Nnewi, and as we are doing this and many others, we want you to educate and tell Nigerians and foreigners and investors on what we are doing.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the two agencies interacted on how the partnership would benefit them. (NAN)
