Bauchi State Government says it will train 500 youth in maintenance and Set-Top Box (STB) skills to fast track digitalisation of the state owned media outfits.
The Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr Dayyabu Chiroma, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Bauchi.
Chiroma said the state government would create its STB and train youths to facilitate digital communication transformation in line with the conditions for the Digital Switch Over (DSO) by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).
He said the state Ministry of Information had notified the NBC of its readiness towards successful switch over, adding that the commission provided enabling platform for the STB development in the state.
“Bauchi State is ready for the Digital Switch Over latest in 2022, and we’ve notified the NBC on the development.
“We are going to assemble 500 youths across the 20 LGAs and teach them in set-top box maintenance that will be used by the Bauchi State Television Authority (BATV) after the DSO.
“We are going to initiate and have a content to be used by indigenes of Bauchi State, when you are using DTSV explorer, you enjoy more than 500 channels depending on the subscription.
“After the switch over, part of the benefit Bauchi State Government and the people will derive is that we are going to launch a set-top box and create content.
“And the content will enable institutions like the State House of Assembly and Emirate Councils to have their substations,” he said.
He said that Gov. Bala Mohammed had also approved the total overhauling of the BATV to fast track the switch over process.
According to him, the government also plans to establish 10 community FM radio stations to augment the existing 10 across the 20 LGAs in the state.
