By
Abdullahi Jalaluddeen
The Director-General, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Dr Muhammad Bulama, has called for a strategic partnership between the corporation and the Northwest Development Commission (NWDC) to accelerate development and effectively communicate the commission’s interventions to the people of the region.
Bulama made the call when he paid a courtesy visit to the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NWDC, Prof. Shehu Abdullahi Maaji, in Kano.
He expressed appreciation to the management of the commission for the reception and congratulated the management on their appointments, while also extending condolences to Maaji over the death of his aunt.
The FRCN Director General described the establishment of the NWDC as a welcome development and a demonstration of the Federal Government’s determination to address the devastating effects of insecurity, which had affected lives, livelihoods, infrastructure and economic activities across the seven states of the Northwest.
He said the commission would serve as a strategic instrument for rebuilding communities, strengthening livelihoods and unlocking the region’s economic potential.
Dr Mohammad Bulama said FRCN was ready to support the commission through a proposed NWDC Development Communication Partnership, which would focus on informing, educating, documenting and connecting citizens with the commission. According to him, the partnership would include a flagship programme, “Northwest Rising: The Development Story,” dedicated correspondents, documentaries, outside broadcasts, youth and skills development programmes as well as initiatives promoting peace, security and social cohesion.
Bulama said effective communication was critical to ensuring that the impact of development projects was understood and appreciated by the public, noting that radio remained one of the most effective means of reaching people across the Northwest.
He proposed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding and establishment of a joint technical committee to develop an annual communication plan, while also seeking the commission’s support for FRCN in areas such as broadcast equipment, staff training and renewable energy, particularly for stations in Kano, Kaduna and other parts of the region.
The Northwest Development Commission Managing Director professor Shehu Abdullahi Maaji described the visit as significant, saying the commission could not achieve its mandate without effective partnership with FRCN.
He said radio remained a powerful platform for disseminating information, connecting communities and enabling citizens, including those in the diaspora, to understand government programmes and contribute to development.
He welcomed the proposed partnership and pledged that the commission would explore dedicated weekly, monthly and quarterly airtime to enlighten the public on its activities.
The NWDC Managing Director said the commission, established by the Federal Government to intervene in areas where development gaps existed, had a mandate covering security, agriculture, infrastructure, health, education, youth and women empowerment.
He disclosed that the commission would organise a Northwest Economic Development Summit in Kano in September, expected to bring together the President and governors of the seven Northwest states, and assured FRCN of accreditation and support to provide comprehensive coverage of the event, while expressing readiness to consider interventions that would strengthen the corporation’s broadcasting capacity in the region.
Among the FRCN Director General’s entourage entourage includes the zonal Director FRCN Kaduna Mohammad Gumbi, S A to the DG,and General Manager pyramid FM Kano Dr Garba Ubale among others
