Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said African nations have agreed to work together in their quest to successfully transit from analogue to digital broadcasting.
Mohammed stated this on Thursday at the 6th African Digital TV Development Seminar in Beijing, China.
A statement issued on the seminar by Mr Segun Adeyemi, the Special Adviser to the minister was made available to newsmen in Abuja.
According to the statement, Mohammed said that 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.
He said the decision was reached by the ministers 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.
“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,’’ he said.
Mohammed expressed gratitude to his fellow African Ministers for their “Pan African solidarity’’.
He stressed that working together on the digitalisation 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’’.
Mohammed assured that Nigeria would meet the June 2017 deadline to switch off analogue broadcasting.
“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 digitalisation,’’ he said.
He commended the organisers of the seminar for continuing their tradition of providing a forum for advancing the cause of digital television development in Africa.
