BBC rolls out 'Gist Nigeria'

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Co-produced by Channels Television and the BBC in Nigeria, Gist Nigeria will be a weekly half-hour show for viewers in Nigeria, and on partner stations in Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Gist Nigeria will provide in-depth reporting, emphasising on the stories behind the news, its impact and how it affects the audience. It will offer analysis, studio discussions and hard-hitting interviews around the significant issues that matter to Nigerians and West Africa. The programme will also have stories covered by a selection of the BBC ‘s African services.

Broadcast from Channels Television’s new studios in Lagos, the show is shaped to the same high standards of journalism and production that audiences around the world expect from the BBC and Channels TV.

Commenting on the launch, Kingsley Uranta, Channels Television‘s assistant general manager, operations, said, “We look forward to our viewers enjoying the best of television programme production, crafted in the cherished tradition of Channels Television which is anchored on truth, balance, fairness, and integrity. Of equal importance is showcasing the giant strides of our people around the world as well as highlighting those issues that demand attention on our journey to a better society.’’

On the other hand, BBC’s commissioning editor for Africa, Nisha Kapur, stated, “This partnership between the BBC and Nigeria’s leading TV channel goes beyond news coverage. It will tap into conversations going on in the country and track successful Nigerians living abroad. As we report and analyse regional and global news stories, Gist Nigeria wants to be free of clichés often associated with the news coverage of Africa. The programme will deliver BBC journalism in a dynamic and engaging style, based on our long-standing principles of independence, accuracy, and unbiased reporting.”