Anambra Scorecard 6th Edition: “Hot Questions and Cool Answers”

 
The Managing Director of Anambra Broadcasting Service, Mr Uche Nworah was the guest on this week’s edition of Anambra Scorecard, an online live and interactive programme anchored on the traditional village square of Ndi Anambra on Facebook. The topic of discussion was “The Reinvention of Anambra Broadcasting Service”.

The Anambra Scorecard which provides thousands of Ndi Anambra both home and in Diaspora the opportunity to effectively engage their government is being moderated by Rtn Ifeanyichukwu Ifeadinmesi Aniagoh.

Here are hot questions thrown at Mr Uche Nworah by the online audience and his cool replies:

Q1:
Good day guest. Sometime this year, the governor laid the foundation stone of a the new ABS office complex with a lot of fan fair but up till now, many months after, no work is going on at the site. Please can you tell us the reason for this?

A1:
You will understand that broadcast equipments are not off-the shelf items. They are customised for the client. Currently the 20KW FM transmitters have been delivered and fully installed but not yet commissioned. These will be commissioned when the ongoing construction of the Radio and TV studios in Awka are completed by Dec 2015

Q2:
Sir, what is the plan of the Government in positioning ABS as the best news and information Channels in the Southeast and its environs?

A2:
ABS exists to serve Ndi Anambra, to inform, entertain and educate. We are not a propaganda Organisation. Like I said in another thread, we are currently repositioning from being a broadcast Organisation to a media and entertainment brand. Our decisions on programming are based on our judgement on the right of the public to know.

Q3:
Hello sir, we are happy that you are here. Can you kindly enlighten the general public on the upcoming Glo program on Friday? The program has been broadcast so much and people would want to be in the know about it.

A3:
You will agree that Governor Willie Obiano has created the enabling environment for businesses to thrive. Security has been one of the big problems Anambra has faced in the past but that has also be sorted by His Excellency. We convinced our friends in Glo (my former employers) to bring their trademark Slide N Bounce concert to Awka, all their ambassadors e.g Falvour, P Square, Wizkid etc will play. To attend, text “Yes Awka” to 30188 to get an invite. The show is happening this Friday Oct 16, 2015 at Marble Arch Hotel, Awka.

Q4:
Good Afternoon Nze Uche. I am happy with the level of progress ABS has achieved with your presence at the helm of affairs. As the NEW digital ABS is taking shape, we know that content is KING in the media. (Question 1) What can ABS do in terms of creating a qualitative and original local ( with bias to Anambra) content for her viewers to keep them coming back for more? (Question 2) How has the ABS being able to harness the enormous potentials in the Social Media to reach out to the public? Thank you.

A4:
Content is king in the new broadcast era. No broadcast station can fully fund its content so what we do is to partner with independent producers who help us to produce content, when such programmes attract sponsorship we then do revenue share. We are also now investing in our own content and we encourage Ndi Anambra who have programme ideas to feel free and talk to us.

Q5:
Sir, if we look at what is going on recently in the social media about our governor. The opposition is manufacturing lies upon lies on daily basis against out governor.
I want you to tell us what your organization is putting on ground to counter this ugly trend, knowing fully-well the importance of effective communication in nation building and political alignments.

A5:
It's unfortunate that social media is being abused in our parts. All sorts of people wake everyday and start throwing jibes at government officials, that's the unfortunate reality but then if you notice, His Excellency has remained focused on the tasks and assignments at hand. For us at ABS, we operate in the realm of factual information, informing and educating Ndi Anambra on the activities of His Excellency and members of his team.

Q6:
Sir what fresh package do ABS have for people these remaining year... and when will ABS move into cable?

A6:
At the moment ABS can be seen on Startimes Channel 113. Once our digitisation process is complete, we have the promise of the authorities that ABS will be hooked onto the DSTV network. In the interim, Ndi Anambra the world over can now listen to us live via our websitewww.absradiotv.com

Q7:
Sir, Last few years ago, about 145 staff of the ABS where relieved of their duties by the then Commissioner for Information, Joe Martins Uzodike. The House of Assembly after going through the petitions written by the affected members recommended that they be re instated. Was the recommendation obeyed?

A7:
This issue is really complicated. ABS had a bloated workforce and so the former government attempted to reduce the numbers. Many of course didn't like that hence the numerous petitions that were written etc. You cannot run a media Organisation with the numbers then, and also with the numbers I met when I joined ABS in July 2014. At the end of the day, it's about numbers. You must generate enough to service your costs, etc. Technology has made it possible to achieve more with less. I wasn't here when the former administration made their recommendations to bring some people back but I am speaking based on what I met on ground.

Q8:
Mr Nwora Sir, I want to ask what ABS is doing in making sure that its network reaches all the nooks and crannies of our dear state and beyond in projecting the image of the government especially to the grassroot.

A8:
It bothers His Excellency everyday that ABS hasn't yet penetrated all the nooks and crannies of Anambra State. This is why he championed the digitisation and modernisation process for ABS. Every process takes some time to fully achieve. It's just unfortunate that past administrations never looked the way of ABS else it would have just been easy. I can tell you that no other government in the history of the state has cared so much about ABS than Chief Willie Obiano. We are appealing for a little more patience.

Q9:
Sir ,what was the penalty government gave to Chris Uba and PDP for destroying ABS property during the reign of Chris Ngige as the Governor of Anambra State?

A9:
The issues of the past years, during the Wild Wild East days are still very painful to Ndi Anambra but at the end of the day, we have to move on. We are in a new era, new ideas, positive vibes etc. I can't really comment much on what government has done regarding the ABS equipments destroyed during those dark days as I wasn't here then.

Q10:
During the life of the previous administration, we heard this same tone that no other government in the history of the state has cared for ABS than Peter Obi, same with Ngige, Mbadinuju etc. What a propaganda? And which one do you want us to believe? Does such undertone not constitute to a sycophancy?

A10:
Let's be positive here. This is not propaganda, you are welcome to come to ABS any time and I will take round on a tour.

Q11:
Thanks for the attempt on my previous question, and based on your answer, so you mean that Ndi Anambra are only expecting to here where people's character are being butchered, You have not given me any reason or the purpose for such a programme and on whose interest it was filmed, edited and aired on a state owned agency?

A11:
It's unfortunate that you hold such extreme view. That is however not the case, I am sure if you had followed our operations during the last elections, you will agree that we tried to live up to expectations professionally and also in line with the NBC codes. All the political parties has fair coverage on ABS including PDP, APC etc. It is not our responsibility to generate content for the parties but we are always here to ensure that Ndi Anambra have all the information they require to make informed decisions during voting and on other occasions. I am sure that it is easily verifiable if APC, PDP and other parties' jingles were played on ABS. We even covered the TAN rally live which held at Ekwueme Square so please I will appeal that you verify before alleging.