The Angola Embassy in Nigeria has committed to collaborating with Voice of Nigeria in a cultural exchange program with Angola National Radio to promote broadcasting in the Portuguese language and fulfil its mission.
During a courtesy visit by the Director-General of VON, Jibrin Baba-Ndace, and his team to the Angola Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr Jose Bamoquina Zau, the Ambassador expressed satisfaction with the visitors and the similarities between Nigeria and Angola in terms of oil, economy, and culture.
The Angola National Radio, established in 1931, is widely listened to in Central Africa, and the Embassy is willing to work with VON as it is a public radio station that does not condone fake news. The partnership will help mobilise and sensitise people to governance in Nigeria and Angola. The Ambassador assured VON they would meet with the Minister of Information of Angola to discuss the partnership in July.
The VON Director-General explained that his organisation is the only public platform owned by the Federal Government with a mandate to propagate culture and characteristics and tell positive Nigerian and African stories. VON broadcasts in four local languages, Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, and Fulfulde, as well as four international languages: English, French, Arabic, and Swahili. The organisation wants to expand its broadcasting platform to include Madari, Portuguese, and other global languages.
As Director-General of VON, Mr Ndace is determined to create positive narratives about African countries, and the partnership with Angola will facilitate joint content creation, staff exchange, and management visitation to Angola to meet with counterparts and share best practices in telling stories in a truthful and believable manner.