By Citizenship Daily
Authorities of the Nigerian information sector have reached out to the the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) World Service for improved relations on information dissemination and management.
The Nigerian side, represented by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, believes that inter-sectoral collaboration for better information dissemination and management is crucial for social growth and development.
Idris was on a working visit to the British Broadcasting Corporation headquarters in London, according to a statement on Tuesday by Rabiu Ibrahim, Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister of Information and National Orientation.
Idris’s visit to the BBC is part of a bridge-building and cooperation efforts between Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation and foreign and local media houses.
At a meeting with the BBC’s top management, headed by Mr Jonathan Munro, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the BBC News and Director of the BBC World Service, Idris made case for better
understanding as a key element in driving development.
”The media plays an indispensable role in shaping the right narratives, fostering understanding, and driving development, and as such, it is incumbent on media houses with global reach to deepen their understanding of the socio-political, economic, and cultural characteristics of the societies they report on,” said Idris.
He also underscored the vital role the BBC plays as a longstanding narrator of the Nigerian political journey, saying that it was important for the BBC to balance its reporting on Nigeria by highlighting the progress and successes of the country and adopting deliberate content that inspires hope for a brighter future.
”Nigeria has a flourishing youth population with uncommon zeal to seize positive opportunities even in the face of immense challenges, a situation that warrants more emphasis on positive outcomes in Nigeria,” Idris said.
One of the key challenges amongst youth in Nigeria and the world over, the Minister explained, is the rapid spread of misinformation, disinformation, and fake news, which he said hinders progress and erodes trust between government and the people.
He called on the BBC to further strengthen mechanisms to address the challenges identified by also working in concert with its foreign partners to combat these threats and ensure the media ecosystems remain credible and responsible.
The Minister praised the BBC’s expanding their operational reach in Nigeria by creating more language options in Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, and Pidgin, saying it has helped to spread information, create employment and train many Nigerians.
