The Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) has announced plans to launch an audiovisual platform to expand access to its programmes, promote audience participation and enhance learning, particularly in Chinese language and culture.
The Director-General of FRCN, Mohammed Bulama, disclosed this on Thursday at an event marking the 456-day anniversary of Ni Hao! China, a Radio Nigeria programme, at the Chinese Cultural Centre in Abuja.
Bulama said the initiative would strengthen cultural exchange between Nigeria and China, noting that the Asian country had valuable experience in innovation and technology that Nigerians could learn from through broadcasting.
“Anniversaries provide opportunities not only to reflect on achievements but also to renew our commitments and establish more ambitious goals,” he said.
He urged the programme’s producers to develop engaging content combining Mandarin lessons with stories about Chinese culture, innovation, education, tourism, business and everyday life.
“The future of broadcasting lies in the effective integration of traditional radio with digital media,” Bulama said.
He explained that FRCN was already using podcasts, social media clips, audience quizzes and other digital learning resources to enable listeners to practise and revisit lessons at their convenience.
According to him, Radio Nigeria would continue to promote audience participation, celebrate learners’ progress and explore new ways of connecting with audiences.
“As we look toward the future, the mission of the FRCN remains clear. Radio Nigeria will continue to innovate, to tell the stories that unite us, and to ensure that FRCN remains the gateway through which Nigerians connect with the world,” he said.
In his remarks, the Cultural Counsellor of the Chinese Cultural Centre, Yang Jiangxin, commended the producers and presenters of Ni Hao! China for making Chinese-language lessons engaging and accessible to Nigerian audiences.
He said the programme had also introduced listeners to China’s history, culture, food traditions, everyday life and exchanges between the two countries.
Yang noted that the anniversary coincided with the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and China, which he said had been strengthened by political support, mutually beneficial trade and economic cooperation, and cultural exchanges.
“In many ways, ‘Ni Hao! China’ is both a witness to and a driving force behind the rock-solid and ever-growing friendship between China and Nigeria. This year marks the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges,” he said.
He added that the programme would continue to contribute to closer relations between the two countries and promote greater understanding between their peoples.
“As an important part of cultural and people-to-people exchanges between China and Nigeria, and between China and Africa more broadly, ‘Ni Hao! China’ will continue to play an increasingly important role in strengthening our traditional friendship, promoting mutual learning between our civilizations, and bringing our peoples closer together,” Yang said.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, Comrade Grace Ike, highlighted the media’s role in strengthening bilateral relations and supporting national development.
She called for more programmes that promote professional journalism, cultural diplomacy, youth participation, language learning and responsible public communication.
“Let the message of these 456 days remain clear: when voices connect, cultures come closer; when cultures come closer, nations understand one another better; and when nations understand one another, peace and development become stronger,” Ike said.