International broadcasting station of Nigeria
This article is about Nigerian radio station. For music competition, see
The Voice Nigeria
.
Voice of Nigeria - VON
|
Type
| Radio network
|
---|
Country
| |
---|
Availability
| International
|
---|
Owner
| Federal Government of Nigeria
|
---|
Key people
| Mr. Jibrin Baba Ndace
(Director General), previous: Mr. Osita Okechukwu (2016?2023), Sampson Ogbonda Worlu (2015?2016), Abubakar Jijiwa (2005?2015),
Taiwo Allimi
(1999?2004), Yaya Abubakar (1990?1999)
|
---|
Launch date
| 1961
|
---|
Official website
| http://www.von.gov.ng
|
---|
The
Voice of Nigeria
or
VON
(
Yoruba
Ile Akede Naijiria
;
Hausa
Muryar Najeriya
;
Igbo
Olu nke Naijiria
;
Fula
Konngol Naajeeriya
) is the official
international broadcasting
station of
Nigeria
.
History
[
edit
]
Founded in 1961,
[1]
the Voice of Nigeria began life as the External Service of the then Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (now
Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria
). Then Prime Minister Sir
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa
commissioned the service.
The nation's growing commitment informed the need to have an external channel through which authoritative information about the African situation could be disseminated to the entire world. Even then, its transmission, using a 10 kW HF transmitter, was limited to West Africa for two hours daily in English and
French
. Broadcast hours increased to six in 1963 with the commissioning of five prototype RCA 100 kW transmitters.
In 1989, five Brown Boveri transmitters with antennae system were acquired. On January 5, 1990, VON became autonomous, and in 1996, three state-of-the-art 250 kW Thomcast AG transmitters were commissioned. This boosted VON's transmission to the entire world. The transmitting station is located on 40 hectares at Ipakodo,
Ikorodu
in Lagos State. While the administrative headquarters is in Abuja, the Federal Capital, News and Programmes emanate from both the
Lagos
and
Abuja
studios. In 2012, VON commissioned another state of the art multi-billion naira transmitting station at
Lugbe
, Abuja.
Powers and functions
[
edit
]
According to the Act establishing Voice of Nigeria (VON), the following are some of its powers and functions:
The Corporation shall, to the exclusion of any other broadcasting authority or any other body in Nigeria, be responsible for broadcasting externally, by radio, Nigeria's viewpoint to any part of the world.
(1) Provide as a public service, in the interest of Nigeria, radio broadcasting services for global reception in such languages and at such time as the Corporation may specify;
(2) The Corporation shall ensure that its services reflect views of Nigeria as a Federation and give adequate expression to the culture, characteristics, affairs and opinions of Nigeria.
(3) The Corporation shall ensure that news and programmes enhance Nigeria's foreign policy and image.
Director Generals
[
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]
Current
[
edit
]
Mr. Jibrin Baba Ndace is the newly appointed Director-General of Voice of Nigeria by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
[2]
Former
[
edit
]
- Mr. Osita Okechukwu (2016?2023)
- Sampson Ogbonda Worlu (2015?2016)
- Abubakar Jijiwa (2005?2015)
- Taiwo Allimi (1999?2004)
- Yaya Abubakar (1990?1999)
See also
[
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]
References
[
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]
External links
[
edit
]