Date: 2016-08-03

When the Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Alhaji Lai Muhammed announced the appointment of ace journalist and columnist Mallam Ishiaq Modibbo Kawu as the new Director General of the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC), many where left in awe, not because of his unsuitability or non-qualification for the onerous task of championing and marshalling the nation's Broadcast industry to Digitization. Rather, it was mainly because of his often radical and critical analysis of government and its officials, especially the ruling party in Kwara state and the Saraki political family, who weekly receive knocks from the fearless critic.

Upon assuming office however, he made it clear that part of his topmost agenda will be staff welfare and good interpersonal relations which will aid the necessary development in the commission and enable it perform its constitutional role efficiently and effectively.

Since his first day in the office, the restless Modibbo has been in the forefront of championing the digitization of the Nigerian Broadcast industry, with visits and interactions with foreign and local stakeholders and experts which has taken him to China, London, among other places. These are all geared towards making the dream of a complete switch to Digital Broadcasting (Digital switch over)by the second quarter of 2017 a reality.

While addressing participants at the 2016 National summit on Broadcast Content and National Security, penultimate Tuesday in Lagos state he said "One of my dearest wishes as the DG of the NBC is to have a genuinely knowledge-driven institution, at par with its counterparts around the world. A broadcasting regulatory institution like ours must be at the cutting edge of developments in the challenging world of 21st Century broadcasting. And the challenge is no longer far away from us, especially with the hope that we have, to complete the Digital Switch Over (DSO), by June, 2017.

"We will immediately confront newer challenges that will task our abilities as an institution; I invite you for a moment, Ladies and Gentlemen, to reflect on a broadcasting scenario with tens upon tens of new television stations. They will purvey all manners of content, challenging our sensibilities, in ways that we probably cannot even begin to imagine today. Yet, broadcasting in general is not just about the technical realities of studios, transmitters or even the personnel; at its heart is content" he added.

It is noteworthy that the last two months have given discerning insight into the direction the broadcasting industry will take under the stewardship of its new helmsman. It is also safe to say the digitization project, if well harnessed, will create millions of direct and indirect jobs in the sector. This has gone to show the importance of the digital switch to the country in general and the Change administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in particular. While it is too early to shout hurray, the DG's first 2 months in the saddle is a sure pointer to a revolutionized broadcast industry in Nigeria.

Akogun, the Publisher of Fresh Insight Magazine, writes from Ilorin. He can be reached on shoboiakogun@gmail.com