A PEEP INTO VON

The Voice of Nigeria or VON (Yoruba Ilé Akéde Nàíjíríà; Hausa Muryar Najeriya; Igbo Olu nke Naijiria; Fula Konngol Naajeeriya) is the official international broadcasting station of Nigeria.

Founded in 1961, the Voice of Nigeria began life as the External Service of the then Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (now Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria). Then Prime Minister Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa commissioned the service.

The nation’s growing commitment informed the need to have an external channel through which authoritative information about the African situation could be disseminated to the entire world. Even then, its transmission, using a 10 kW HF transmitter, was limited to West Africa for two hours daily in English and French. Broadcast hours increased to six in 1963 with the commissioning of five prototype RCA 100 kW transmitters.

In 1989, five Brown Boveri transmitters with antennae system were acquired.

On January 5, 1990, VON became autonomous, and in 1996, three state-of-the-art 250 kW Thomcast AG transmitters were commissioned. This boosted VON’s transmission to the entire world. The transmitting station is located on 40 hectares at Ipakodo, Ikorodu in Lagos State.

While the administrative headquarters is in Abuja, the Federal Capital, News and Programmes emanate from both the Lagos and Abuja studios. In 2012, VON commissioned another state of the art multi-billion naira transmitting station at Lugbe, Abuja.

According to the Act establishing Voice of Nigeria (VON), the following are some of its powers and functions: The Corporation shall, to the exclusion of any other broadcasting authority or any other body in Nigeria, be responsible for broadcasting externally, by radio, Nigeria’s viewpoint to any part of the world. (1) Provide as a public service, in the interest of Nigeria, radio broadcasting services for global reception in such languages and at such time as the Corporation may specify;

(2) The Corporation shall ensure that its services reflect views of Nigeria as a Federation and give adequate expression to the culture, characteristics, affairs and opinions of Nigeria.

(3) The Corporation shall ensure that news and programmes enhance Nigeria’s foreign policy and image.

Mr. Jibrin Baba Ndace is the newly appointed Director-General of Voice of Nigeria by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Past Director General are;

Mr. Osita Okechukwu (2016-2023)

Sampson Ogbonda Worlu (2015-2016)

Abubakar Jijiwa (2005 -2015)

Taiwo Allimi (1999 – 2004)

Yaya Abubakar (1990-1999)