Jibrin Baba Ndace, the new Director General of Voice of Nigeria is an experienced, all-round journalist. Fresh from his official duty as an embedded defence correspondent in General Buratai’s (rtd) team that routed the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria, he has now been appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the DG of VON. Edozie Udeze writes on the professional odyssey of this remarkable journalist as he settles down to reposition Voice of Nigeria.
Jibrin Baba Ndace, the newly appointed Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), is probably the youngest journalist to be appointed into that position. But this appointment did not come as a big surprise to many close admirers of Ndace. Ndace has been a very committed journalist, public relation expert, author, et al. Almost all his career life; he has been distinctive and distinguishable. He had at various times worked in different media establishments where he proved himself as a thorough-bred professional; diligent and remarkable.
Ndace read English Language at Bayero University Kano. Among his mates he was deemed one of the best brains of his set. Over there at Bayero, he took time to acquire what has been described as clear vision and mission of where he was headed. From the word go, he had had a focus in life. His zeal and determination was to go into the journalism world to make a mark, an indelible mark, that is. His first port of call was the Market Magazine, a business-based publication. While there he helped to redefine the business orientation of the publication.
This was in 2004. At that time he ensured the magazine reached its apogee. Ndace helped with efforts that reappraised the economic policy and direction of the magazine. Soon after this era he joined the Blueprint Newspapers. There he rose quickly to become its General Manager in-charge of special projects. This singular and exalted position offered him ample moments to acquire and imbibe lots of professional experiences. That zeal he brought into his official duties did not escape the watchful eyes of people that matter.
It was from there he promptly became an embedded journalist. This also did not come as a surprise. When General Buratai took over as the Chief of Army Staff in those heady days of Boko Haram, General Buratai did not hesitate to invite him over into his team. He was made a special defence correspondent and was duly embedded and empowered to cover and report all the military exploits of General Buratai and his officers and men. A product of family of soldiers, Ndace soon realised that duty truly called him to danger and that he had a huge task ahead of him.
As dutiful and diligent as always, and with that irrepressible overriding interest in him as a thorough-bred professional, Ndace produced three amazing books from his sojourn as an embedded defence journalist. The books are: The Lonely Grave (poetry, Duty Call Under Burati’s Command and Walking The Warfront with Lt Gen. TY Buratai. These books, fat and glossary in output, are in consonance with all the principles of warfare, indeed they portray the odyssey of a keen writer, journalist and someone who was duly embedded for an urgent national duty and assignment.
Now, Ndace has been called yet to discharge higher duties for the good of the Nigerian project. While he quickly commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the confidence reposed in him, Ndace also pledged to keep to the tenets, principles and dreams of the founding fathers of Voice of Nigeria. “My role,” he said “Is to keep discharging my duties, and ensuring that I project Nigeria externally”. Of course the responsibility of VON is to tell the outside world those salient and imperative issues, themes, programmes and policies that define and keep Nigeria afloat and abreast with the rest of the world. This is what Ndace regime has reiterated to do.
Then, it is clear that both his recourse into public and private professional areas of life have prepared him for today. Ndace was once the Chief Press Secretary to the Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello. He was at various times public affairs expert, radio host and peace advocate. He has equally travelled parts of the world as a peace mediator, advocate and a reporter. You can see then that this journalist is best prepared for the task he is meant to discharge.
This is saying also that part of his promise on assumption of office is to impact extensively on Nigerian media landscape and development. In other words, the world should be prepared perhaps and be on the threshold of receiving more books from Ndace when his duty is over. This is hoping so; knowing that he is capable. Besides, he will ensure that VON remains to Nigeria what VOA means to America and BBC to Great Britain
