Ndace and the ‘Voice’ of Vision By Ahmed Balarabe Sa’id
In today’s world, nations no longer compete only in markets and militaries, but also in stories. The ability to tell one’s own story and tell it well, has become a strategic asset. For decades, the Voice of Nigeria (VON) was that window through which the world listened to Nigeria: its values, its aspirations, its vision. But over time, that once-powerful voice grew faint, muffled by neglect and the restless advance of technology.
Now, the tide is turning. VON is on a steady path of renewal, through reform, innovation, and a restored sense of mission. The station is reconnecting with its founding philosophy: that Nigeria must be heard clearly, with dignity and authority, in the global conversation. At the heart of this rebirth is the recent revival of the Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) transmitter project. This is no ordinary upgrade. By restoring and modernizing the 250KW TX2 transmitter at Lugbe, Abuja, the most powerful shortwave transmission station in Africa, Nigeria has taken a historic leap into the future of broadcasting. What this means is simple but profound: the world will no longer hear Nigeria’s voice drowned in static or distortion. Instead, it will carry the sharp clarity of FM, the reliability of digital sound, and the versatility to transmit not just audio, but text, images, and data. This technical leap is far more than the repair of machines. It is a statement, that Nigeria’s story is worth telling, and that it must be told with the best tools available.
Leadership and the Spark of Renewal
Every transformation has a driver. Behind the new energy at VON lies leadership that is visionary, deliberate, and courageous. In less than two years, under the direction of Malam Jibrin Baba Ndace, the station has witnessed a revival that goes beyond routine administration. Programming has been diversified to blend international standards with authentic Nigerian voices. Staff morale has been lifted through recognition and retraining. Partnerships have been forged to sustain momentum.
This is what leadership does when it is powered by vision: it does not merely manage decline, it redefines possibility. It refuses to be held hostage by budgets or bureaucracy, instead galvanizing people and resources around a larger purpose. What is happening at VON today is a living example that public institutions, often written off as moribund, can breathe again with the right stewardship.
The Promise of Technology
The DRM transmitter is more than a shiny new gadget. It is a revolution in what broadcasting means for society. Too often in Nigeria, expensive technology is installed with fanfare, only to gather dust. This is different. The DRM system beams sound across continents with crisp clarity, allowing Nigerians abroad to stay connected without the frustrating hums and fades of analog shortwave.
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But the promise goes deeper. The technology transmits data alongside sound. That means headlines, weather forecasts, images, and even educational materials can ride the same frequency. During national emergencies, it can override idle receivers to deliver alerts, a vital tool for security and disaster response. For rural communities beyond the reach of the internet, it can beam textbooks to schools, health updates to clinics, and market prices to farmers. And all this comes with efficiency, cutting costs through energy savings and flexible, software-driven upgrades. VON is not just reclaiming a voice, it is becoming a service provider for national development.
People, Platforms, and Partnerships
At its core, this renewal rests on a simple but powerful triad articulated by Ndace: people, platforms, and partnerships. Technology matters, yes, but people remain the soul of every institution. By retraining and motivating its workforce, VON is ensuring that its staff carry the institution’s mission with pride. By investing in transmitters and digital systems, it is building the platforms to amplify Nigeria’s stories. And by cultivating partnerships, locally and internationally, it is ensuring that this revival is sustainable. This is not cosmetic change. It is structural renewal.
Why This Matters
Why should anyone beyond the walls of a broadcasting house care? Because broadcasting has never been just about signals. It is about identity, influence, and sovereignty. In today’s information-saturated world, nations are defined as much by the stories told about them as by their economic indicators. A country without a credible voice risks being misunderstood, or worse, defined by others.
For Nigeria, the largest democracy in Africa, silence has never been an option. A reinvigorated VON ensures that Nigeria speaks for itself, correcting distortions, amplifying African solidarity, and offering perspectives rooted in its own lived realities. In this way, broadcasting becomes diplomacy, defense, and dignity all at once.
A Nation Finding Its Voice Again
The rebirth of the Voice of Nigeria is not just an institutional revival. It is a lesson in what can be achieved when vision meets will. In less than two years, transmitters long abandoned are humming again, technology once thought out of reach is now operational, programming has become richer, and pride has returned among staff. This is proof that decline is not destiny. With clarity and courage, institutions can reawaken, nations can reclaim their narratives, and voices long muted can rise again.
Ultimately, what is happening at VON is about more than broadcasting. It is about Nigeria finding its voice in a noisy world, and ensuring that when it speaks, it does so with quality, clarity, and purpose. It is about showing that our stories matter, that they deserve to be told well, and that the world cannot afford to ignore them. The message is clear: Nigeria is not just speaking again. Nigeria is being heard. And it is being heard with a vision that will endure.
Sa’id is a Communications Consultant and Public Affairs Analyst. He writes from Kaduna
