The Director General of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mallam Is’haq Modibbo Kawu has opened up on the reasons that lead to the timely delivery of Abuja digital terrestrial transmission.
Explaining the details in his address of welcome during the recent switch on of Abuja platform, he said “I want to place on record the incredible support that the National Broadcasting Commission has received from President Muhammadu Buhari, to ensure the success of the digitization process in Nigeria”.
He revealed that “The president directed that funds seized from the Commission be promptly released to facilitate our work,” stressing that “our work has taken place within the vision that President Buhari laid up for a digital economy in Nigeria”.
Kawu noted that President Buhari had envisaged an economic process driven by Nigeria’s very creative young people; arguably the most dynamic and most creative on the African continent today.
Elated Kawu disclosed further that “At the NBC, we have placed the digitization process within the broad ambits of President Muhammadu Buhari’s vision”.
Explaining more on the takeoff of the Abuja DSO, NBC boss hinted that “As part of the Abuja switchon, we would transmit 30 TV channels, offering fares in news, entertainment, sports and business”.
“The bouquet of programs offers local, regional and national television channels; this is the new way to watch television. Our Set Top Boxes are also interactive, offering the unique opportunity for government to communicate directly with the Nigerian people; there is also the possibility of instant feedback which would assist in deepening the democratic process”.
“There is a rich possibility opening up for Nollywood to offer access to the rich repertoire of Nigerian films, expected to sweep the carpets from the feet of pirates, thus bringing more funds to help develop Nigeria’s film industry, the third largest on earth. In the new digital ecosystem, seventy percent of content on 24-hour television would be local.
“This offers jobs opportunities as well as wealth creation for Nigeria’s very creative young through the entire broadcasting value chain. The introduction of a Digital Access Fund (DAF), would become platform to help collect television licenses in Nigeria, thus present opportunities for local governments around Nigeria to get funds that can aid the development of the grassroots.
