By Elizabeth Uwandu

THE British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC,  has reiterated that aside the inclusion of  three Nigerian local languages, Igbo, Yoruba and Pidgin to its world’s service expansion from 29 to 40 languages; the partnership will also be an avenue for the creation of job opportunities for Nigeria’s youths.

Mrs Bilkisu Labaran, Editor, BBC Africa, made this known when she and BBC’s world service project manager, in Nigeria, Sarah Ansah, visited the University of Lagos, UNILAG, to sensitize Nigerians on the need to key in on the project.

Her words, “We have a really exciting editorial offer. We are are going to transform things because for the first time, our media services will be fully digital. These three languages, Yoruba, Igbo and Pidgin will all be on the social media. Each one of them will have BBC website; facebook and instagram  accounts, including twitter handles. And then, the content that we create is going to be created by Nigerians.

“ Again, we will recruit Nigerians , making jobs available. And the range of jobs will be interesting, such that they will able  to deliver on a  modern media platform.  This is a new kind journalism, digital journalism. It is vivid, exciting, and strongly audio and visual; all online. But, the video will be short to make it easier to share. “ added the BBC Africa editor.

Also speaking, Ansah said the expansion will set a platform for the preservation of African culture and heritage as Nigerians within and in diaspora will be able to relate with their relevant issues about them in their own dialects. “Perhaps, one key point to note is that Nigerians will better understand, participate and in turn form right decisions that affect them more easily since information will now be communicated to them in their own local languages.”

The duo of Mrs Labaran and Miss Ansah were received by the  Head of Department, Mass Communication, Dr Sunday Oluruntola and Mr Samuel Ejiwumi,a digital marketing strategist and a one time 2013 best graduating student, Mass Communication, UNILAG.