Nigerian Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has pledged his full support, commitment to the growth and development of the broadcast industry, saying that the industry is a subset of Nigerian economy, which is critical to the success of Renewed Hope agenda and the economic vision of the Tinubu Administration.
Idris made the remark while declaring open the 13th edition of AFRICAST, 2023 with the theme ” Broadcasting Content, Synergy, Finance, and Market”, on Tuesday, October 24, 2023, at the Marriot Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
The Minister expressed his delight that the conference has become a pinnacle event in the African broadcasting sector, adding that AFRICAST has garnered a reputation for its remarkable thought leadership, knowledge sharing, networking opportunities, and commercial prospects.
He stated that AFRICAST was conceived by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) as a response to Africa’s flourishing broadcasting sector, which aims to connect broadcasters, content platforms, production houses, and equipment manufacturers through panel discussions.
The Minister commended the organizers for coming up with the first of its kind, “AFRICAST 2023 Content Hub,” which was created in collaboration with the Nigerian International Film and TV Summit (NIFS).
The Content Hub serves as a platform for professionals in the film and television content industry to acquire, aggregate, license, and distribute content by professionals operating across various film and television content categories.
Minister Idris emphasized the significant role of content creators, producers, and broadcasters in shaping the entertainment industry globally while acknowledged the power of high-quality content to inform, entertain, and inspire, as well as the responsibility it carries.
Highlighting the economic potential of the broadcast industry, the Minister emphasized the importance of collaboration between the government and the private sector to create viable pipelines of profitability.
According to the statement released by the Ministry, he reaffirmed govt’s commitment to ensuring Nigeria’s successful migration to Digital Switchover (DSO) in broadcasting, addressing previous challenges, and adopting global best practices.
The Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission, Mr. Charles Ebuebu, said earlier in his address that his vision is for the Nigerian broadcast industry to be driven by content and technology, saying the power of creativity, storytelling, and the authentic voices that reflect the diverse culture of our nation is recognized.
“The essence of broadcasting lies in the stories we tell, the information we convey, and the connections we make. It is the quality, diversity, and relevance of our content that will shape our narrative and enhance our global standing as proven by the success story of our Nollywood and Music industry.”
The event has consistently attracted respected individuals and organizations from local and international broadcast industry, cementing Nigeria’s position on the global broadcasting map.