Dec 9, 2007
LAGOS (AFP) — The public Radio France Internationale has
launched in Nigeria this weekend a news service in Hausa,
the official language of northern Nigeria that is widely
spoken in other parts of West Africa.
Financed by RFI and with collaboration from the
international Voice of Nigeria, the Hausa programs will
be broadcast two hours daily -- the same amount of time
as British rival, BBC, broadcasts in the same language.
"It's the first time in the history of the international
French radio that the editorial staff is completely
relocated overseas," said Jean Claude Kuentz, RFI's
deputy general development director, speaking of the
launch which took place Saturday.
Five journalists and three technicians will make up
the radio's Hausa team, which Kuentz said has triggered
interest by Tanzania's radio and television broadcasting
service for a similar collaboration in Swahili.
The Hausa service will allow the station to offer "the
diversity of French opinions and not just the official
position of France" worldwide, France's ambassador to
Nigeria Yves Gaudeul said.
English is Nigeria's official language.
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hdao-Zp-r5KbGgiVIUxARnSEhxkQ
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