The Director-General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Malam Jibrin Ndace, has called for reactivation of the partnership with the agency and the Sudan Broadcasting Corporation.
Ndace made this known when he led management team on a visit to the Charge D’ Affaires, in the Embassy of Republic of Sudan, Mr Ahmed Taboul on Tuesday in Abuja
According to Ndace, the relationship between Sudan and Nigeria is deeper than what other people perceived, stressing that there are many Nigerians who have become Sudanese and vice versa.
“We are here today to reconnect with Sudanese Embassy and by extention, the Sudanese Government.
“In the past, Sudan related with VON on a mutual programme; some of our broadcast were sent to Sudanese Broadcasting Corporation and vice versa.
“We are here to reactivate what what our founding father have lay by reconnecting with Sudanese Broadcasting Corporation.
“VON was established to be in the forefront of shapping positive narratives about Nigeria and Africa and in doing that, it was conscious of language and thus we broadcast in eight languages.
“I feel it is necessary to reconnect with partners of VON to reshape and project Nigeria and Africa. We want to work with you and reactivate the relationship we had with you,” Ndace said.
The VON boss explained that the relationship could be in form of exchange programme, content creation and sharing, adding that its 250KVA transmitter is undergoing repairs.
“When it is restored, our brothers and sisters in Sudan will get authentic voice of Nigeria shaping the narrative of Africa, Africans, Nigeria and Nigerians in a language such as Arabic, French, English and Swahili and others”
He added that no country in the world is perfect, but that there are good things going on in Nigeria, Sudan and other African countries that needs to be reported.
Ndace reiterated his desire to reconnect and work with the Sudan Embassy and the Sudan Broadcasting Corporation, adding that VON is committed to offer its platform to the Embassy to project its activities.
In his response, Taboul appreciated Ndace for the visit, stressijg that Nigeria and Sudan have a special relationship that started many years ago.
“We have a lot of things to do together, not only to reconnect with the Embassy, but to reconnect you with the Sudanese Broadcasting in Sudan and we will do it soon.
“Maybe by today or tomorrow we will send letter to Sudan. We will encourage the Sudanese Broadcasting at least to tell us how they are going to deepen the relationship, especially after the current situation in Sudan is over
“We are doing our best to reconstruct some of our stations, but inspite of fhe situation, Sudanese broadcast has not stopped.
“I thank you very very much and your staff as well for visiting us at the Sudanese Embassy. You are welcome any time,” Taboul said. (NAN)