The Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Malam Jibrin Ndace, has called for the reactivation of the agency’s partnership with the Sudan Broadcasting Corporation to strengthen cultural and media ties between both nations.
Ndace made the appeal on Tuesday in Abuja during a courtesy visit to the Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of Sudan, Mr Ahmed Taboul, alongside his management team.
He noted that the bond between Nigeria and Sudan goes beyond diplomacy, highlighting that many Nigerians had integrated into Sudanese society and vice versa.
“We are here today to reconnect with the Sudanese Embassy and, by extension, the Sudanese Government. In the past, Sudan related with VON on a mutual programme; some of our broadcasts were sent to the Sudanese Broadcasting Corporation and vice versa. We are here to reactivate what our founding fathers laid by reconnecting with them,” Ndace said.
The VON boss explained that the renewed collaboration could take the form of exchange programmes, joint content creation, and content sharing. He revealed that the agency’s 250KVA transmitter, currently undergoing repairs, would soon be restored to strengthen VON’s reach across Africa.
“When it is restored, our brothers and sisters in Sudan will get the authentic voice of Nigeria shaping the narrative of Africa, Africans, Nigeria and Nigerians in languages such as Arabic, French, English and Swahili,” he added.
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Ndace stressed the importance of projecting the positive aspects of both countries, saying: “No country in the world is perfect, but there are good things going on in Nigeria, Sudan and other African countries that need to be reported.”
Responding, Taboul welcomed the initiative, describing Nigeria and Sudan as long-standing partners. He assured that efforts would be made to reconnect VON with the Sudan Broadcasting Corporation despite Sudan’s ongoing challenges.
“We have a lot of things to do together, not only to reconnect with the Embassy but also with Sudanese Broadcasting. We will send a letter to Sudan to encourage them to deepen the relationship, especially after the current situation in Sudan is over,” Taboul said.
He commended Ndace and his team for the visit, noting that Sudanese broadcasters had continued operations despite current difficulties.
“You are welcome any time,” he told the VON delegation.
