African Broadcasters have converged on Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city for the 14th Annual Conference of the African Union of Broadcasters, (AUB) to deliberate on how to maximize the opportunities inherent in the digital space for the growth of the continent.
Africa has been perceived to be lagging behind in the area of digitization despite making series of investments in the process.
To address this gap the AUB brought together the Broadcasters from across the region to brainstorm on finding solutions to the challenges of broadcasting amidst the current realities of the new world communication order.
Addressing the gathering, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed pledged the country’s support for any effort to fight digital stereotypes against Africa and Africans.
The Minister commended the efforts of the AUB in repositioning broadcasting on the continent.
The Minister, represented by the Director General of the National Orientation Agency, Dr Garba Abari, said the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari would collaborate with Union and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that Nigeria and Africa in general changed the narrative as regards digital communication.
Alhaji Lai Mohammed also commended the role which Radio Nigeria and the Nigerian Television Authority have been playing to strengthen the AUB.
On his part, the President of the African Union of Broadcasters, Mr Arthur Asiimwe expressed displeasure over the way Africa was lagging behind in the new digital communication environment.
He therefore tasked African broadcasters to align with the demands of their audiences.
The theme of the event is ‘the Digital Transformation of the World: Impact and Challenges for African Broadcasting’.
