DSO: Lai Mohammed in Beijing, says African nations united on digital broadcasting

ITRealms:

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said that African nations have agreed to work together in their quest to successfully transit from Analogue to Digital broadcasting, reports ITRealms.

Speaking at the 6th African Digital TV Development Seminar in Beijing, China, on Thursday, the Minister said the decision to engage in shared experiences and synergy on a continental level was reached by the African Ministers in charge of Information and Communication, who attended the 3rd Forum on China-Africa Media Cooperation also in Beijing, which preceded the Seminar.

 

‘’It is indeed worrisome that so far, only two African nations have successfully transited to Digital broadcasting. Others are in various stages of transition. It is therefore imperative that we all work together to achieve our set goal.

‘’In this regard, let me formally announce that the African Ministers in charge of Information and Communication who are attending this Seminar have agreed on the need for all African nations to jointly face the transition challenge, with a view to enhancing their success in meeting the deadline. 

‘’I am happy to inform this audience that the Ministers held an exploratory meeting here in Beijing on Tuesday - on the sidelines of the 3rd Forum on China-Africa Media Cooperation - in furtherance of this agreement,’’ he said.

Alhaji Mohammed expressed gratitude to his fellow African Ministers for their ‘’Pan African solidarity’’, saying he had no doubt that working together on this digitalization process ‘’will not only improve our chances of achieving a successful transition, but will also open a new vista of cooperation in other areas, for the benefit of all our peoples’’.

He commended the organizers of the Seminar for continuing their tradition of providing a forum for advancing the cause of digital television development in Africa. 

The Minister said in spite of the challenges faced by Nigeria in its efforts to transit from Analogue to Digital broadcasting, the country is confident of meeting the June 2017 deadline to switch off Analogue broadcasting, especially as it has successfully launched the pilot phase.

‘’We are confident because we, as a government, have the political will to drive the transition process. Also, all the stakeholders have demonstrated uncommon passion, patriotism and dedication to the cause of digitalization,’’ he said.

 

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MIC confirms request for N13.1m from NBC, says not personal loan for Lai Mohameed

ITRealms:

The Ministry of Information and Culture (MIC) has confirmed requesting for a loan of N13,120,470.00 million from the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to cover a five-man delegation to Beijing, China for a conference on Tourism for Development, reports ITRealms.

MIC also insisted that the loan is not a personal loan for the Honourable Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

A press statement signed by Director of Press (DoP) and Protocols at MIC, Dama N.P.D. and made available to ITRealms, said their attention has been drawn to a letter endorsed by (DoP) to the Ag. Director General, NBC, said the loan is to cover tickets and travel expenses of a five-member delegation being led by the Honourable Minister of Information and Culture to Beijing, China.

Dama alleged that the internal memo was mischievously leaked to the social media by staff of National Broadcasting Commission.

According to Dama, the loan being requested is for the Ministry to meet up its obligations to enable the Minister and members of his delegation attend the Conference on Tourism for Development in China, that is, meant to benefit the country.

“The loan is not meant for the Honourable Minister alone as personal expenses, but for the expenses of all members of the delegation … but for the entire five members of the delegation to cover for tickets, travel allowances and other incidentals,” Dama said.

The conference, Dama said, is being organized by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation in conjunction with the Government of the People’s Republic of China, under the overall theme “Tourism for Peace and Development,” will feature amongst others discussions on major issues for sustainable development including the contribution of Tourism to poverty reduction and peace.

Dama further said the Conference will also feature discussion on major issues that have direct bearing on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), poverty alleviation through Tourism and the linkage between Tourism peace at the National and International levels.

In addition, Dama said, China on this occasion as chair of G20 will also host the 7^th T20 Ministers meeting under the theme “Sustainable Tourism, An Effective Tool for Inclusive Development.''

The Conference, the DoP pointed out, is a veritable platform to develop synergy and partnership with players in the global Tourism Industry which will go a long way in boosting our drive to diversify the Nigerian economy.

“It is also important to note that the Minister and his delegation were to have discussion in China with Set Top Box Manufacturers, who are meant to establish manufacturing factories in Nigeria for these boxes for our digital broadcasting processes, rather than the current situation in which the boxes are being imported.  This is meant to conserve our foreign exchange and to also create avenue for job creation for our citizens,” Dama said.

The DoP emphasized that the Conference is an all important gathering that will benefit Nigeria, contribute towards diversification of its revenue base and create employment opportunities for Nigerians.

“Again, it is not unusual for an agency under the Ministry to assist in order to carry out government functions.  Moreover, the request was discussed with the Ag. Director General NBC, who agreed to assist with the loan before the letter was written.  It is therefore shocking to find out that an internal memorandum from the Ministry could be leaked out to the social media by saboteurs in order to embarrass the government,” Dama said, maintaining that no multiple letters were written to government agencies as alleged.

“We only wrote to NBC after discussing with the Ag. DG.  Payments were to be effected if the fund were loaned out based on extant financial regulations.  There is nothing wrong with the request of the Ministry to meet up with an important assignment meant to benefit the country,” Dama claimed.

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Obama’s trip motivated by Beijing’s Africa ties

 ITRealms

China, a dominant power in Asian economy, has said that the just concluded President Barack Obama’s visit to Africa was motivated by America’s concern over Beijing’s expanding ties on the continent, ITRealms reports.

Beijing’s state media said America "obviously lacks a consistent Africa policy” and sees China as a competitor rather than designing “a constructive power to bring welfare to the land," ITRealms reports a recent publication in the English-language Global Times.

"The U.S. used to be a dominant power in Africa, a change of position has touched the nerves of the U.S," the report said.

According to Xinhua citing Les EchosFrance, the United States’ $7 billion about N1.39 trillion Power Africa project to provide 50 million Africans with electricity had made little progress since it was unveiled in June 2013.

But a senior White House official, ITRealms learnt, said that the United States is building on "decades of development relationships" in Africa, where it has supported public health, food security and, especially now, the empowerment of Africans to create their own growth, their own job creation."
As for the United States' relationship with Africa, he said, "We're not just in it for a set of natural resources; we're here to build African capacity. And that type of partnership over the long run I think does distinguish the United States. It's something that we bring uniquely to bear." 

The Asian powerhouse, ITRealms gathered, has doubled its financing commitments to Africa at each of the last three forum meetings and it’s expected to bolster them with "another impressive line of credit," according to a report from African Growth Initiative, a project of the Brookings Institution in Washington. China's commitments rose from $billion in 2006 to $10 billion about N1.98 trillion in 2009 and $20 billion about N3.97trillion in 2012. It extended its credit line to Africa by another $10 billion last year. 

Cyriacus Nnaji/GEE

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