Nigerians are treated with disdain abroad due to negative stories – VON DG

From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar

The Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Malam Jibrin Baba Ndace says Nigerians are treated with disdain abroad due to negative stories.

He disclosed this in Calabar during a courtesy visit on the Cross River State Deputy Governor, Peter Odey.

Malam Ndace said though we may  not perfect, we are not what we are being portrayed abroad.

He said telling the Nigerian story is something we should be unapologetic about and also tell it confidently.

“As a person, when you travel out with Nigerian passport, you are treated with disdain, unbefitting of your status.

“This unacceptable treatment is traceable to negative stories people have peddled about Nigeria. We may not be perfect, but we are not what is being portrayed.

“Telling Nigeria’s story is something that all of us should be intentional and deliberate about.

“This is not a time for us to do good and be quiet. We must be unapologetic in telling Nigeria’s story confidently,” he stated.

He sought for partnership with the state government  to tell Nigeria’s story especially in this era of social media distortions, outright lies, misinformation and disinformation.

“Our country is not all about negative news, we have great things happening here too. We should all join hands to tell the positives that we are known for”, he said.

He noted that since assumption as the Director General, the focus has been to publicise the role of VON as the front line story telling agency in Nigeria poised to reduce the country’s negative image by marketing its potentials.

In his response, the Cross River State Deputy Governor, Mr. Peter Odey eulogized Malam Ndace as a “true and thorough bred professional” whose wealth of experience has repositioned Voice of Nigeria globally.