Vunderkind
Social Member
The Consul-General of Germany to Nigeria, Mr Michael Derus, on Thursday announced the inauguration of the Deutsche Welle (DW)'s West Africa Regional Office in Lagos.
Deutsche Welle is Germany's international broadcaster.
It broadcasts news and information on shortwave, Internet and satellite radio in 30 languages.
The service is aimed at overseas market.
Derus said at a news conference in Lagos that the establishment of the office was part of a plan to expand the organisation’s African market with increased coverage and regional presence.
The envoy expressed optimism that the choice of Lagos for the office would strengthen Germany’s relations Nigeria.
“To us, the opening of the DW office in Lagos is the news of the year. The opening of the office is timely in the wake of Nigeria and Germany relations.
“The presence of DW in Lagos today goes to show how intense and dense, Nigeria and Germany relations have become.
“DW is for the promotion of mutual interest of both countries in the areas of economic, cultural and political relations,’’ he said.
Mrs Gerda Meuer, the DW’s Director of Programming, assured Nigerians of unbiased reporting of socio-economic, political and cultural developments by the international media organisations.
Meuer said that the aim of the regional office was not to negatively report Nigeria to the rest of the world.
“We have good plans for Nigeria and other African countries. We are here to make Nigerians and other Africans happy.
“DW is here to report the successes of Africa and not to always negatively report Nigeria and other West African countries.
“By establishing a permanent office in Lagos, Nigeria, DW is building on an already existing strong presence in the region,’’ she said.
Meuer said that the organisation’s Hausa radio programme, which had been running for about 50 years, had become popular in Nigeria.
She said that the organisation would soon come up with other television programmes in other major languages.
Meuer said that before the establishment of the office in Lagos, the organisation’s two correspondents had been covering events across Nigeria and other African countries.
She said that they were working closely with a network of local correspondents covering important events in Hausa, English and French languages.
Deutsche Welle is Germany's international broadcaster.
It broadcasts news and information on shortwave, Internet and satellite radio in 30 languages.
The service is aimed at overseas market.
Derus said at a news conference in Lagos that the establishment of the office was part of a plan to expand the organisation’s African market with increased coverage and regional presence.
The envoy expressed optimism that the choice of Lagos for the office would strengthen Germany’s relations Nigeria.
“To us, the opening of the DW office in Lagos is the news of the year. The opening of the office is timely in the wake of Nigeria and Germany relations.
“The presence of DW in Lagos today goes to show how intense and dense, Nigeria and Germany relations have become.
“DW is for the promotion of mutual interest of both countries in the areas of economic, cultural and political relations,’’ he said.
Mrs Gerda Meuer, the DW’s Director of Programming, assured Nigerians of unbiased reporting of socio-economic, political and cultural developments by the international media organisations.
Meuer said that the aim of the regional office was not to negatively report Nigeria to the rest of the world.
“We have good plans for Nigeria and other African countries. We are here to make Nigerians and other Africans happy.
“DW is here to report the successes of Africa and not to always negatively report Nigeria and other West African countries.
“By establishing a permanent office in Lagos, Nigeria, DW is building on an already existing strong presence in the region,’’ she said.
Meuer said that the organisation’s Hausa radio programme, which had been running for about 50 years, had become popular in Nigeria.
She said that the organisation would soon come up with other television programmes in other major languages.
Meuer said that before the establishment of the office in Lagos, the organisation’s two correspondents had been covering events across Nigeria and other African countries.
She said that they were working closely with a network of local correspondents covering important events in Hausa, English and French languages.