The Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mallam Jibrin Baba Ndace, has reaffirmed the broadcaster’s commitment to promoting African unity, identity, and cultural pride through the Kiswahili language.
He made this known in his goodwill message at the 2025 World Kiswahili Language Day celebration held at the United Nations House in Abuja. The event, themed “Swahili: Past, Present, and Future,” brought together dignitaries, diplomats, and cultural stakeholders to honour the growing influence of the Kiswahili language on the African continent.
Mallam Ndace commended the East African Community (EAC) Group of Ambassadors and High Commissioners, in collaboration with UNESCO Nigeria, for championing Kiswahili as a symbol of integration and Pan-African pride.
Describing Kiswahili as “a vessel of African heritage, unity, and identity,” the VON boss emphasized the importance of leveraging African languages to shape the continent’s global narrative. He highlighted VON’s daily Kiswahili broadcasts as a key contribution to cross-cultural communication and continental solidarity.
He also reflected on VON’s long-standing collaboration with the Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation, which has facilitated content exchange and professional development between the two nations.
Mallam Ndace specifically acknowledged the Tanzania High Commissioner to Nigeria, His Excellency Ambassador Selestine Kakele, for his steadfast advocacy in promoting Kiswahili and strengthening Nigeria-Tanzania media relations a gesture he described as emblematic of Pan-Africanism.
“As one of Africa’s foremost international broadcasters,” he stated, “Voice of Nigeria continues to champion Africa’s story through multilingual programming, including Kiswahili and other indigenous languages.”
A notable highlight of the event was a presentation by members of the Kiswahili class at Voice of Nigeria, reflecting the broadcaster’s internal commitment to language development and cultural learning.
The event attracted high-level attendees, including Ambassadors and High Commissioners from East African nations, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr. Mohamed Malick Fall, and the Ambassadors of the Philippines and Algeria, among others.
