Report on the opening of the new shortwave transmitter site at Lugbe, a suburb of Abuja, today now on the VON website at:
http://www.voiceofnigeria.org/Nigeria/VON-ultramodern-transmitters-launched.html
VON's ultra modern transmission station launched
Posted on 13th March, 2012
Lawan Hamidu, Abuja
The Nigerian government has reiterated its commitment to support Voice of Nigeria to meet international standards as part of its transformation agenda.
President Goodluck Jonathan stated this at the commissioning of VON's Ultramodern Transmission Station at Lugbe, a suburb of the capital city, Abuja.
The President represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo while acknowledging the role Voice of Nigeria plays in the development of not only the country but the entire African continent, said government would continue to support the organization to transform broadcasting for the better.
The Vice President commended Voice of Nigeria for its lead in the digitization process in Africa and challenged Mass Media in the country to contribute to the peace and unity of the nation.
At the event, the Director General Voice Of Nigeria, Mallam Abubakar Jijjiwa sought for presidential intervention to sustain the transformation journey.
Mallam Jijjiwa said the organization would need two additional Super-Power Transmitters and two antennas to compete favourably with its counterparts around the world.
In his remark the Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku expressed confidence that with the commissioning of the project, Nigeria's perspective of global politics would be enhanced.
Ultra-modern transmitters
Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria, Abubakar Jijiwa says the `state of the art' transmitting station, is the first of its kind in Sub-Sahara Africa.
Voice of Nigeria, Nigeria's external broadcast station is mandated to project Nigeria and Africa's views to the world.
Located in Lugbe, a suburb of Abuja in the Federal Capital Territory, the transmitter has a rotating antenna, with the capacity of a hundred and fifty kilowatts and is powered by one thousand two hundred high tension generators.
Today's commissioning makes Voice of Nigeria radio station the second in Africa and the seventh in the world with a rotating antenna transmitting station.
Mallam Jijiwa says the transmitters will ensure that Voice of Nigeria is able to compete favourably with other international radio stations as its broadcasts will reach all over the world.
He hinted that Voice of Nigeria would soon establish an international television station as part of the station's mandate to project Africa's view to the world.
New Digital Studio
On Monday, the Voice of Nigeria commissioned an ultra-modern digital studio in Abuja, as part of efforts to enhance its broadcast.
The new studio, commissioned by the Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, is named after Mrs Stella Bassey, a seasoned broadcaster and former Deputy Director, Programmes of the Voice of Nigeria.
Commending Voice of Nigeria for its quality broadcasting, Mr Maku urged the radio station not to relent in its efforts to maintain world class broadcast standards.
The Director General of Voice of Nigeria, Mallam Abubakar Jijiwa said the station had a culture of rewarding hard work.
Mallam Jijiwa said the studio was named after Stella Bassey because of her immense contributions to the corporation and the country in the area of broadcasting.
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[but currently VON on 15120 kHz (AM) in English still has usual buzz on audio - surely not the new "state of the art" transmitter?? - Alan Pennington Via BDXC-UK ]
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