‘BBC to mentor young African journalists’

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has pledged to invest more in Nigeria by launching a mentorship and internship scheme for the next generation of West African journalists.

Director of the BBC World Service, Jamie Angus disclosed this at the launch of the new Lagos bureau of the media outfit amidst pomp.

The new bureau is a home to three new services in Igbo, Pidgin English and Yoruba. The bureau boasts a new state-of-the-art TV studio and two radio studios which can accommodate up to 200 people.

Following the intervention fund provided by the British Government, the BBC has widened its scope in Nigeria broadcasting in three major languages of Hausa (the flagship of its language service dated back to over 60 years), Yoruba and Igbo as well as Pidgin (Commonwealth Journalists Association) in addition to the English service.

The new investment, according to BBC, has created over 100 new jobs in Lagos being the direct result of the biggest expansion of the BBC World Service since the 1940s.

Angus, who addressed the audience at the glamorous opening event attended by some First-Class traditional rulers in Yoruba and Igbo land and spiced up with many breathtaking performances, said the investment was part of BBC’s contribution to entrench best practice and deepen professionalism in Nigerian media.

According to him, the BBC services would also help in the fight against ‘Fake News’ - “and we’ll benefit from the young journalists’ insight into West Africa.”

“The World Service delivers accurate, impartial and independent news to all countries. We spot the stories, see the patterns and make sense of your world. We promise to remain your most trusted source of news in the years to come,” the director said.

The bureau is led by the BBC’s Head of West Africa, Oluwatoyosi Ogunseye. According to Ogunseye, the services will focus more on original journalism “that impacts the lives of Nigerians at home and abroad.”

She added, “We are expanding our editorial offer to cover politics, culture, business, health, investigations, among others.”

From Abdullateef Aliyu, LagosFrom left: Mallam Garba Shehu, President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mrs Funke Egbemode, MD, New Telegraph and President, Nigerian Guilds of Editors, Head, West Africa, BBC World Service, Toyosi Ogunseye and Mr. Solomon Mugba, Regional Editor, Africa, BBC World Service, at the launch of BBC Lagos Bureau recently. Benedict Uwalaka