A News Analysis by Mark Longyen, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

For the first time in 14 years, the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Nigeria’s sole external radio broadcaster, recently held a strategic management retreat.

The landmark event, with the theme: “VON in the 21st Century: Restrategising for Global Impact,” was spearheaded by its Director General and Chief Executive Officer, Malam Jibrin Ndace.

The event was organised to reflect Ndace’s strategic vision and drive as well as to reflect on the agency’s achievements over the years, realign its strategic priorities, and reposition it as a leader in contemporary global broadcasting.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, who was the chairman of the occasion, while declaring the event open, described 2025 as a critical year for consolidating President Tinubu’s socio-economic and political reforms.

He underscored VON’s role in amplifying the administration’s achievements and fostering global awareness of Nigeria’s developmental strides under President Tinubu.

Idris urged VON to positively project the key achievements of the administration, such as fiscal reforms; empowering state and local governments; progress in the war on terrorism; and providing education loans for Nigerian youth, globally.

“There’s no doubt that 2025 will consolidate Mr President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which is already yielding significant progress across various facets of our national life.

“The Voice of Nigeria must tell the world that Nigeria is working again.

“We are winning the war on terrorism, banditry, and ethnic conflicts.

“We are providing education loans for our youth and transitioning to sustainable energy solutions,” Idris emphasised.

The minister also stressed the importance of combating fake news, adopting innovative digital technologies, and strengthening Nigeria’s image as a regional and global powerhouse.

Idris commended Ndace for his exemplary leadership, adding that VON was becoming a driving force in showcasing Nigeria’s progress.

He also lauded VON’s dedication to promoting Nigeria’s culture, policies, and achievements to a global audience, especially in the 21st Century.

In his opening remarks, Ndace described the retreat as “a transformative milestone in VON’s history.”

He underscored the importance of innovation, collaboration, and strategic planning, stressing that the event was critical in revitalising VON’s mandate of amplifying Nigeria’s voice on the global stage

Ndace expressed his deep gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his unwavering support and trust in VON’s leadership.

According to him, the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda has inspired the agency’s mission to showcase Nigeria’s progress and leadership across Africa.

He also lauded the Minister of Information and National Orientation for his pivotal role in reshaping VON’s strategic focus.

Ndace appreciated the National Assembly, fellow heads of sister media agencies, including the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), National Orientation Agency (NOA), and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), for their unwavering support.

He also outlined his vision for VON, saying it is built on three key pillars – People, Platform, and Partnerships.

On the first pillar, which is the people, he described the workforce as the heartbeat of VON and pledged to foster collaboration, inclusivity, and professional growth.

Recognising the role of younger audiences, he reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to engaging youth and integrating their perspectives into national and global conversations.

On the second pillar, which is platform, the DG stressed the need to modernise, and highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen VON’s digital presence and upgrade its broadcasting infrastructure.

This, he said, would enable the agency to deliver high-quality and impactful content to a diverse global audience.

On strategic partnerships, Ndace celebrated VON’s recent collaborations with key stakeholders, such as the Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC) and the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM).

“These partnerships are instrumental to enriching VON’s programming, expanding its reach, and promoting Nigeria’s soft power globally,” the DG said.

Ndace further emphasised VON’s commitment to inclusivity through the production of multilingual content, which reflects Nigeria’s rich diversity.

He said that this was the reason for VON’s recent strategic collaborations with the Ministry of Solid Minerals, the Nigerian Army, and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), among others.

“This is in line with our restrategising efforts to ensure that all Nigerians, regardless of language or location, are connected to the nation’s progress, and for VON to make global impact in the 21st century,” he said.

While stressing the critical role of strategic innovation, Ndace challenged stakeholders to contribute ideas to reposition VON for greater global relevance.

“This retreat marks a new chapter for VON, and together, we will achieve our vision of becoming a leading voice for Nigeria and Africa.

“There is the need for us to leverage cutting-edge technology, enhance digital content delivery, and amplify narratives that project Nigeria and Africa positively.

“This retreat is a call to action for all of us to reimagine VON’s future and reaffirm its position as a pillar of Nigeria’s soft power,” he said.

Ndace expressed confidence that the insights gained from the retreat would set VON on a renewed path toward greater global relevance and impact.

“This retreat reaffirms VON’s commitment to its mandate of providing a strategic framework to enhance its role as Nigeria’s external broadcaster and project the nation’s success stories to international audiences,” Ndace said. (NAN)

Edited by Emmanuel Yashim