By Kennedy Sheyin
The Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) has sought media collaboration with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) to access timely, accurate and credible news content about Nigeria for its television channel, Flame TV.
The Nigeria Productions Manager of CBN, Mr Austin Ekanem, made the request when he led a delegation of the network on a courtesy visit to NAN headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.
Ekanem, who is also the Director of Programmes at Flame TV, said the network was seeking the collaboration in response to increasing demand for news about Nigeria among its viewers.
He said NAN, as Nigeria’s national news agency, was the preferred source for authentic and credible information about the country for both local and international audiences.
“We set out to satisfy our viewers, and there is no way we can give news about Nigeria without going to the source of news about Nigeria, locally and to the international audience, which is NAN.
“Of course, it is possible to source news from other places, but in terms of responsible, authentic journalistic practice and credible news, the go-to place is NAN, which has been in existence since the 70s and has seen it all,” he said.
Ekanem said Flame TV was committed to responsible journalism and would not want to be involved in controversies arising from the dissemination of inaccurate or misleading information.
He said the decision to partner with NAN was also informed by the need to present a balanced and positive image of Nigeria to the international community.
According to him, international media coverage of Nigeria and other African countries often focuses on negative events, including hunger, conflict and disasters, while overlooking the country’s achievements and development.
“When they want to portray Nigeria, the only thing you see are naked, hungry people running around the streets, wars and disasters.
“But that is not the truth about Nigeria. Nigeria is so much more, with a lot of positive changes and development,” he said.
Ekanem noted that media narratives significantly influenced how countries were perceived globally, stressing the need for credible information that reflected Nigeria’s realities and achievements.
He said the proposed collaboration would enable Flame TV to access reliable news content from NAN and help reshape international perceptions of Nigeria.
Responding, NAN Editor-in-Chief, Hajiya Hadiza Aliyu, commended CBN for seeking the partnership and assured the delegation that the agency had the capacity to meet its content needs.
Aliyu said NAN offered a wide range of media products and services, including straight news reports, video and audio content, feature stories, solutions journalism and news forums.
She also briefed the delegation on the agency’s history, operational structure and network of district and zonal offices across Nigeria, as well as its international engagements and partnerships with news agencies in other countries.
“We have the staff strength, we have the quality, equipment, and as the biggest content provider in Africa, I can assure you that you have come to the right place,” she said.
Aliyu said NAN was committed to promoting a balanced representation of Nigeria internationally and expressed the agency’s readiness to establish a long-term partnership with CBN based on mutual respect, understanding and shared objectives.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Emmanuel Afonne
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