The director general of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mallam Jibrin Baba Ndace, has tasked youths to be part of solutions to Nigeria’s challenges.
He said lamentation and insulting leaders especially on social media is not the solution to Nigerian problems.
Ndace stated this Monday when he hosted National head, Yali Network Nigeria Mr. Daniel Black and president Female Journalist Network Nigeria Dr. Joy Asonye, who paid him a courtesy visit at VON corporate headquarters in Abuja.
“We cannot move forward as a country if we are not part of the solution. If you lament from now till tomorrow it will not bring solution.
” But you are here not because you don’t have challenges, not because Nigeria doesn’t have challenges but because you believe that you should be part of the solution,” he said.
Ndace noted that VON is a youth centric organization that is committed to deliberately mentoring young people to see themselves as part of solutions to Nigeria’s challenges.
” We have a dedicated programmes geared towards making the youth better citizens.
“We have a regular mentorship sessions with all young people working in our organization including National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members serving in VON and interns, where expose them to leadership skills and patriotism at a young age.”
He lauded Yali Network Nigeria and president Female Journalist Network Nigeria for choosing to be part of solutions to societal challenges, adding that it aligns with vision of VON.
“I am glad that you are doing what you are doing not just for Nigeria but for Africa.
“What you are doing is interdem with the vision and mission of the founding fathers of the Voice of Nigeria which is to shape positive narrative about Nigeria and Africa.”
The DG while assuring of VON’s support towards their forthcoming workshop, said VON is to fighting misinformation, disinformation and fake news about Nigeria and Africa.
He said, “We are proud of Nigeria. We are not saying that Nigeria is the best country in the world. We may have our challenges as a nation but we are certainly a good nation, ” he said .
He said VON would continue to deploy its assets to combat fake news and misinformation about Nigeria and Africa.
“One thing that the VON has and no public broadcaster on the continent of Africa has is that we broadcast in seven local and international languages .
“Working with my team we are talking to the Chinese government so we can commence broadcast in Mandarin because of the influence of China in the African continent.
“We are also going to commence broadcast in Portuguese and Bahasa Indonesia.
“Why are we doing this? We are in the age of noise. We we have alot of misinformation, disinformation and fake news against individuals and countries. Rather than just sitting down and doing nothing, we decided to be proactive like we always do.”
Earlier in his remarks, Black said one of the key indicators of social development is access to credible information by the masses .
“Any country that has low access to information, you cannot say social development is on the rise in that country.”
He said the visit was to seek partnership on its forthcoming United Nations social development workshop.
He said, “As part of our mandate in preparation of 63rd United Nations social development workshop that would take place in New York, United States of America,
“We are mandated to organize a workshop where civil society organizations will talk with government on understanding the dynamics of social development in Nigeria. ”
He said the idea of the work is to have a robust discussion on social development in Nigeria.
He said the outcome of the workshop to be held in Nigeria in January would be presented at the New York workshop.
Be part of solutions to Nigeria’s challenges – VON DG tasks youths
