NBC Chief Tasks Broadcasters On Better Image For Plateau
FROM ISA ABDULSALAMI, JOS
THE Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Dr. Silas Isa, has appealed to members of the body to give Plateau State a positive image for the next six months.
He urged the commission to give the state at least one hour a week in programmes just to project things that are positive about the state.
Isa appealed to those who were hurt in the crisis that led to the just ended state of emergency to cultivate the spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation, which he said had become the pet project of Governor Joshua Dariye since he returned to office.
In his address at the 38th General Assembly of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) held yesterday in Jos, the chairman of BON, Alhaji Abubakar Jijiwa, condemned those behind the crisis in the state, describing them as "heartless people who had no regard for human lives."
According to Jijiwa, such evildoers have no regret even if all lives are wasted so long as they can rule over ashes.
The theme of the workshop was "Broadcasting as an agent for the promotion of communal peace and reconciliation."
The chairman said that because of the veritable reach of the radio, television and the broad spectrum of the society, coupled with the advantage of spontaneity of reactions to broadcast materials, more attention should be paid to the broadcast industry.
He said: "Many people could read newspapers and they would not riot but when they hear certain things on radio or television, they immediately take to the streets."
He said because of the advantage of spontaneity of reactions to broadcasts, "We broadcasters are central in spreading the message of peace and tolerance as sine quanon with the rule of law and democracy."
Jijiwa praised the governor, saying ,,,,�by accepting to host the general assembly less than two weeks after the restoration of all democratic structures in the state, he was demonstrating his courage and faith boldly and publicly that peace had not only returned to the state but seen to have turned.
He said the theme of the general assembly was deliberately chosen by the central working committee of BON to capture the mood of the moment.
The BON chairman assured that the assembly would come out with specific guidelines for the broadcast industry to meet the challenges of ensuring an enduring peaceful co-existence among various communities, which would promote equity and social justice.
He appealed to the Federal and State Governments and media proprietors to invest more funds in their stations so that they could remain on air always.
According to him, broadcasting equipment and facilities are such in a shocking state of disrepair that a former information minister said: "Our broadcast engineers and technicians are indeed magicians."
While welcoming participants, the General Manager of the Plateau Radio, Television Corporation (PRTV), Mr. Joseph Ari, who hosted the General Assembly, expressed his commitment to the ideals of BON.
Declaring the General Assembly open, Governor Dariye asked for the extent to which the broadcast medium had been able to serve the role it set for itself, particularly in crisis management.
"As you all know, the issue of peace is a global challenge considering the increasing rate of upheavals and friction not just in Africa but most parts of the world," Dariye said.
According to the governor, Plateau State has been faced with the bitter reality of a series of communal crises in the recent past.
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