By Abdul Rahman Aliagan
The Director General of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Malam Is’haq Modibbo Kawu recently disclosed that the commission is set to develop National content for digital broadcasting in Nigeria as well as ensuring that 70 percent of Nigerian Television programme is made up of local content. Time Nigeria exclusively gathered.
The hint was dropped during a courtesy call on the DG NBC in his office by the 2016/2017 Face of Culture, North West, Miss Queen Hyeliyiti Aliyu Ibrahim who was accompanied by the Manager, Face of Culture, Nigeria, Samuel Ukpong.
NBC boss disclosed that one of the issues that the Commission is particular about now is how to develop National content for Nigeria’s broadcasting industry.
According to him, “NBC regulates broadcasting in Nigeria and one of the things we are particular about as a Commission is National content for digital broadcasting in Nigeria. We want to ensure that 70 percent of our TV content is local.
Kawu stated further that such development will create job opportunity for Nigerian youth by engaging them in the production of local content. “This gives opportunity to our young ones to engage in production. The logic is that, if the 70 percent of what will go on TV is made up of local content then they have to produce and by doing that jobs will be created”.
Appreciating the concept of Face of Culture, he said, “I want to appreciate you, your cultural concept and your choice for coming to NBC; it is very interesting that a Beauty Pageant like this is situated within culture.”
He however charged Nigerian youth to be the best they can be and not the best of other. “We should endeavour to be the best of ourselves and not the best of others. No matter how hard we try we cannot be the best of American but we can only be the best of Nigerian.”
The DG, NBC, Malam Is’haq Modibbo Kawu in a group photograph with the 2016/2017 Face of Culture Beauty Pageant, Miss Hyeliyiti Aliyu Ibrahim and Manager, Face of Culture, Nigeria, Mr Samuel Ukpong during the Courtesy Visit in Abuja.
Going down historical lane, NBC Director General recalled that culture was at the centre of the struggle for African independence. “If you look at the history of Africa, especially from 1940s, you will discovered that culture was at the centre of the struggle for independence, to liberate ourselves from colonialism, culture was use to Re-Africanise ourselves, engaging the world from the perspective of being African. The fact that we are independent is asserting ourselves as a people”. Kawu said.
He lamented post-independence period as unfortunate seeing African culture being bastardised. According to him, “Unfortunately, the post-independence period, things changed, the content of popular culture is so bastardised that foreign culture has taken over.”
While welcoming the Face of Culture Beauty Pageant, the DG promised to engage the youth meaningfully and productively in ensuring that Nigerian youth have value of where they are coming from and the culture that moulded African and Nigerian in particular.
“There is one thing I can assure you, we will engage the youth, we will make sure that our younger ones have value of where they are coming from and the culture that moulded all of us as people. He promised.
Earlier in her remarks, Hyeliyiti said she is set to preserve and add value to Nigerian culture through a carefully designed Pet Project that centres on culture, education and innovation.
According to her, “My pet Project initiative is about culture, education and innovation; this is an initiative to preserve our cultural value and to teach cultural education to the young ones.
“To promote cultural education among primary and secondary school students; to promote culture of peace and patriotism among school children and to encourage the preservation of culture as well as making use of our culture as a vehicle to drive growth and development.
“I equally aim to create cultural awareness by organising cultural debate, songs and dancing competition among school children. I want to believe this will go a long way in the preservation of our culture and bring out the best in our in our culture.” Hyeliyiti added.
In his contribution, Mr Samuel Ukpong who is the Manager, Face of Culture Pageant in Nigeria, said, the organisation is trying to change the orientation of the girl child so that they can be the change they want to see in their society.
According to him, “we have about ten Queens under our management and the good part of it is that our Queens are cultured, because to promote culture entails culture. We are trying to change the orientation of our girl child, so that they can be the change they want to see in their society. Whatever Pet Projects they have in their minds, we at the management team amplify it; we put it down on paper and see how they can execute it.
“Queen Hyeliyiti came up with a Pet Project, cultural, education and innovation, her passion is to make sure that these young girls develop a reading culture, embrace their culture so that they did not start developing foreign culture to lose their identity. Ukpong stressed.
“We want to promote our culture through debate; we will create an avenue to bring students from different school together to have a debate in their local language, folklore, songs, and fashion show with their local fabrics. To see how we can all smile seeing the beauty of our culture and what we can make it to be. He maintained.
