*Voice of Nigeria to Offer a Platform to Share Positive Stories about Africa By Awwal Umar Kontagora The Southern African Development Comm...
*Voice of Nigeria to Offer a Platform to Share Positive Stories about Africa
By Awwal Umar Kontagora
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has unveiled plans to harness innovation to unlock opportunities for sustainable economic growth and development in the region.
Under the new chairmanship of President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe, SADC will prioritize innovation, according to Ambassador Bamoquina Jose Zau of Angola, the Chair of the SADC Group in Nigeria. He made the announcement over the weekend, emphasizing that innovation is critical to driving economic transformation, creating jobs, and improving living standards.
SADC comprises 17 member states with a rich history of collaboration dating back to 1980 when it was initially established as the Southern African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC). In 1992, it evolved into the Southern African Development Community (SADC) with a renewed commitment to promoting sustainable development, peace, and security in the Southern African region.
Speaking at the 2024 SADC anniversary in Abuja, Ambassador Zau noted, "SADC has made significant progress in promoting economic growth, social justice, and human development." The anniversary celebration also marked the transfer of chairmanship from President Joe Manuel Mrosso of Mozambique to President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe.
"As we look to the future, President Mnangagwa’s chairmanship will focus on promoting innovation to unlock opportunities for sustainable economic growth and development," Zau added. "This is a critical area of focus, as innovation has the potential to drive economic transformation, create jobs, and improve living standards."
"We are also proud of the progress we have made in promoting peace and security in our region," Zau continued. "The recent summit in Arusha, Tanzania, commended the peace process and mediation efforts between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, and called on the two countries to cease all hostilities. We will continue to work towards achieving lasting peace and security in the region, particularly in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the province of Cabo Delgado in Mozambique."
"As we celebrate this anniversary, we are reminded of the importance of our partnership with other regions and countries. We appreciate the support and cooperation we have received from the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and we look forward to strengthening our ties with other countries, including Russia."
Ambassador Zau also acknowledged the leadership of President Mrosso during his tenure, saying, "The theme of President Mrosso’s chairmanship was ‘Promoting Industrialization and Sustainable Economic Growth,’ and he made significant strides in promoting human and financial capital development, which are critical drivers of sustainable industrialization. His commitment to consolidating national peace, food and nutritional security, gender development, disaster risk management, and implementing the strategy and roadmap for industrialization will have a lasting impact on our region."
The Director-General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Jibrin Ndace, emphasized the media's vital role in shaping African narratives. He noted that Africans cannot expect the world to respect them if they don't tell their own story.
"We need to be intentional about creating a positive narrative about Africa and Africans. The Voice of Nigeria is a public platform established to consistently create a positive narrative about Nigeria and Nigerians, Africa and Africans," Ndace said. "We broadcast in eight languages, including four indigenous languages and four international languages, to reach a broader audience."
"As Director-General, I’m committed to deepening our engagement with the international community. I’m currently exploring opportunities to broadcast in Mandarin, courtesy of our partnership with the Chinese government. This collaboration will enable us to reach a vast audience in China and promote cultural exchange between our nations."
However, Ndace believes that efforts should extend beyond broadcasting. "We need to encourage travel within the African continent. We need to promote cultural exchange programs, educational initiatives, and economic partnerships that foster cooperation and understanding. We need to create opportunities for Africans to experience the beauty and diversity of our continent firsthand."
To achieve this, Ndace proposed establishing a partnership between SADC countries and the Voice of Nigeria. "We can work together to promote positive narratives about our continent, encourage travel, and foster cultural exchange. We can offer our platforms to journalists from SADC countries to share their stories, and vice versa."
"By working together, we can create a unified narrative that showcases the best of Africa. Let’s define ourselves by our strengths, our resilience, and our beauty. Let’s celebrate our diversity, our cultures, and our achievements. Let’s take control of our narrative and let the world respect us. We are not defined by our challenges; we are defined by our ability to overcome them."
"I offer the Voice of Nigeria platform to all SADC countries willing to work with us to consistently tell positive stories about Africa. Let’s unite in our efforts to promote a positive narrative about our continent. Let’s celebrate our common future and work towards a brighter tomorrow for all Africans," he added.
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