BBC kick-starts Igbo and Yoruba new services for Nigeria

The British Broadcasting Commission (BBC) has launched the Igbo and Yoruba services in Nigeria towards reaching more people by producing contents that resonate with their lifestyle.

According to a statement by the British media outfit, these services will be part of the BBC World Service and their broadcast would be aired twice daily.

Also, the Igbo service is mainly targeted at audiences in the South-eastern part of Nigeria as well as Igbo speaking Nigerians in the diaspora. The Yoruba service is expected to create an audience in the South-western part of Nigeria, Benin Republic, Togo and Yoruba-speaking people in diaspora.

Both services are digital and their services will include short format audio, video, graphics, and illustrations.

Peter Okwoche, Editorial Lead on the project, says the platforms will produce objective, independent and original contents for the targeted audience.

“Both services will concentrate on original journalism from their target regions but will also feature stories from Africa and the main global stories."

"BBC Igbo and Yoruba will provide a platform for debate on the main issues of interest to audiences and give voices to a wide spectrum of people. There will also be a strong focus on women.”

BBC Service in Nigerian languages

BBC World Service is funded by the UK government and provides its coverages in more than 50 major languages across the world.

Oluwatoyosi Ogunseye, Head of West Africa, says the reason for this project is to ensure news is rendered in audiences’ mother tongues.

“Delivering content and engaging with the Igbo and Yoruba audiences in their mother tongues is authentic, exciting and refreshing."

"The BBC is passionate about original journalism that adds value and this is what we want to achieve with these services. These platforms will deliver independent, objective and original news to meet the needs of our audiences in Nigeria and West Africa.”

The media outfit currently has 4 services in Nigeria which are aired in major local languages. The BBC Hausa service started on March 13, 1957, before the independence of Nigeria.

In August 2017, the station launched its BBC Pidgin Service.

With the inclusion of Yoruba and Igbo in its service, BBC has now covered all major languages in Nigeria.

BBC kick-starts Igbo and Yoruba new services for Nigeria

The British Broadcasting Commission (BBC) has launched the Igbo and Yoruba services in Nigeria towards reaching more people by producing contents that resonate with their lifestyle.

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