By ABUBAKAR YUSUF

Since the launch of the second phase of the Digital Switch Over (DSO) powered by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), in Lagos on May 29, in the desire to bring Nigeria at par with the on-going digitization of broadcast communication via free TV world over, NBC has not reneged on its tentative arrangement to launch the same platform in Kano this June and subsequently Port Harcourt in River State by July this year.

The enthusiasm that greeted the launch of the second phase in Lagos after the first phase was initiated three years ago with Jos, Plateau state and some other states for the pilot scheme, including the FCT, as the desire to acquire the platform in all the states of the federation, became a matter of high priority.

With the unique nature of the three states of Lagos, Kano and Port Harcourt in Rivers State, as well as gradually dovetailing to other states of the federation, it became imperative to feel the pulse of free TV between now and the end of 2022.

Already, the leadership of the commission had embarked on massive awareness and sensitization of the people of Kano state, the hub of commercial activities in northern Nigeria on the need to embrace and migrate from pay TV to free TV on digital terrain with positive response and highly spirited Kano indigenes towards the program.

Kano State, with its natural parlance and proverbial instincts in Hausa language was known for its pride status of being ahead of all other states in all activities, with the traditional position in Hausa language: ‘Ko da me ka zo, an fi ka’. This means ‘No matter what is initiated, Kano is ahead of it’. This is practicable from both the commercial and industrial as well as self-sustenance activities of the people of Kano.

According to another side of the proverb, 'the people of Kano regard Kano in Hausa language. ‘Kano, tum bin giwa’. ‘Kano, the stomach of an elephant’. We all know that anything involving an elephant is regarded as extra large.

It is also believed in another Hausa proverb, ‘Kano ba Kano ba, da jin Allah’. This means ‘Kano is not only known by its mere name or nomenclature, but God’s own farm’. When a place is regarded as God’s own farm, it is believed to be characterized with divine blessings.

With all these traits and characteristics, it is already in the public domain, that Kano known for its tradition, indigenous disposition towards responding to both the affluence and the proletariats, in line with the ideals of moving the state from analogue status to a digital world.

Since Kano is known for indigenous activities and the DSO is geared towards development of local contents, artists and small-scale businesses, it will be a good trend to encourage development of our indigenous companies wholly producers of STBs, in line with foreign partnership and manufacturers.

The invention of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) into Kano will attract large subscription as the people of the area believe in both affluence and average lives, giving the concept of the new platform that will be a free TV subscription, compared to pay TV as subscribers are expected to pay as low as N1,500 per annum.

With the forthcoming launch in Kano by June 10, it is expected that by the end of the year when DSO must have successfully debuted in Lagos, Kano, Port-Harcourt, and other parts of the country, millions of Nigerians must have migrated from analogue platform to digital switch over DSO.

The positive development by the NBC management will actualize and possibly put off the streets of Nigeria, the growing rate of unemployment put at 0.33% by NBS, as well as 10 million poverty line, including positive impact on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Nigeria.

•Yusuf, a public affairs analyst, writes from Abuja.