Abdullahi Bego, Commissioner for Information, Yobe State, recently spoke to Daily Trust on efforts by the government to upgrade its media stations.
There were plans to upgrade the state-owned broadcast media stations. Can you tell us how far you have gone?
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Well, first of all I want to say that the digitalization of YTV and Yobe Broadcasting Corporation (YBC) has only just began, we have a very long way to go but His Excellency, Governor Mai Mala Buni, is determined to ensure that these two stations are upgraded to compete favourably with other broadcast stations across the country.
So far, His Excellency has approved about N160 million for the two stations; the first approval was somewhere around N90 million for the TV transmitter and new equipment installed for the radio station to expand the areas of coverage, so that more people across the state would be able to tune into the state FM and AM stations.
A broadcast studio that was burnt down as a result of a fire outbreak would be repaired and be back on air.
The second amount approved was N75 million for the renovation of the state TV broadcast house along Gashua road in Damaturu which is in dire need for attention as it exposed the staff to a lot of dangers; with cracks on the walls and reptiles could crawl in and could harm the staff. In fact the environment was not conducive for productivity and remember, broadcast media station workers are required to be creative and productive
So, work will start very soon and it should be completed within six months. The next thing we expect is for the governor to approve the procurement of digital equipment that will ensure total digitalization of the TV station. But we have to ensure that the renovation of the structures were the equipment will be housed goes ahead first.
What effort are you making to employ qualified staff to operate the new equipment?
Yes, we are doing it in two ways; first there were 39 staff from both YTV and Yobe Broadcasting Corporation (YBC) that were referred to as casual staff. Some of them have been working in these stations for over 10 years but not converted to permanent employees. They have acquired a lot of experience and training on the job and most of them are the studio hands that ensure transmission takes place; in fact they are very critical staff.
His Excellency has already approved the conversion of the casual staff in both YTV and YBC to full time government employees and all of them would be considered on the basis of their current qualifications. When they started, some were just secondary school leavers, but because of their own personal determination, they went back to school and obtained degrees and are still working with these stations.
The second thing that His Excellency is doing right now is giving us the capacity to train the staff in these stations, so we are starting with the news and programmes’ directorates; we are now working with the stations to identify their needs to ensure that their knowledge is updated on some of the new things that are happening in the broadcast sector which is very dynamic. A lot is coming on board and people need to learn them. For example, part of what the governor has approved, is a new sound console and other devices that they have not been exposed to them.
The contractor handling the work has to also handle their upgrade to operate the equipment.
We also want to start talent hunt; we want to look around within the state to see if we have young men and women who are interested and have the capacity to work as news casters, programmes producers and reporters e.t.c. We shall strengthen the work force in YTV and YBC.
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