Writing By Abdullahi Jalaluddeen; By Editing Yusuf Zubairu
The Director-General of the 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 across the region.
Dr Muhammad Bulama made the call during a courtesy visit to the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NWDC, Prof. Shehu Abdullahi Maaji, in Kano.
He thanked the commission’s management for the warm reception and congratulated them on their appointments, also commiserated with Maaji over the death of his aunt.
Dr Bulama described the establishment of the NWDC as a welcome development and a demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to addressing the devastating effects of insecurity, which has affected lives, livelihoods, infrastructure and economic activities across the seven Northwest states.
He said the commission would serve as a strategic instrument for rebuilding communities, strengthening livelihoods and unlocking the region’s economic potential.
The Director-General said FRCN was ready to support the commission through a proposed NWDC Development Communication Partnership aimed at informing, educating, documenting and connecting citizens with the commission’s activities.
According to him, the partnership would feature 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 stressed that 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 platforms for reaching people across the Northwest.
He proposed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding and the establishment of a joint technical committee to develop an annual communication plan.
Muhammad Bulama also sought the commission’s support for FRCN in areas including broadcast equipment, staff training and renewable energy, particularly for stations in Kano, Kaduna and other parts of the region.
Responding, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NWDC, Prof. Shehu Abdullahi Maaji, described the visit as significant, saying the commission could not effectively achieve its mandate without strategic partnerships with organisations such as FRCN.
Prof. Maaji 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 said the commission would explore dedicated weekly, monthly and quarterly airtime programmes to enlighten the public about its activities.
The NWDC Managing Director said the commission, established by the Federal Government to address development gaps in the region, had a mandate covering security, agriculture, infrastructure, health, education, and 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.
Prof. Shehu Abdullahi Maaji assured FRCN of accreditation and support to provide comprehensive coverage of the summit and expressed the commission’s readiness to consider interventions that would strengthen the corporation’s broadcasting capacity across the region.
Members of the FRCN Director-General’s entourage included the Zonal Director, FRCN Kaduna, Mohammed Gumbi; the Special Assistant to the Director-General; and the General Manager of Pyramid FM Kano, Dr Garba Ubale, among others.
Cov/ Abdullahi Jalaluddeen
