The launch ceremony of a pilot satellite TV project was held in Hulumi village in the suburbs of Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, on Thursday August 10.
Guo Weimin, vice director of the Information Office of the State Council, speaks at the launch ceremony of a pilot satellite TV project held in Hulumi village in the suburbs of Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, on August 10, 2017. [Photo: China Plus]
The 10,000 Villages Connection Project stems from a concept put forward by the Chinese President, Xi Jinping, at last year's Johannesburg Summit of China-Africa Cooperation Forum.
President Xi said its implementation was aimed at creating a 'true and sincere' policy towards Africa.
Attending the ceremony, Guo Weimin, the vice director of the Information Office of the State Council said, "Under the scheme, Chinese technology and equipment will help African people watch satellite TV, increase the pace of development of digital TV, and increase access to information for local people. It will also promote mutual understanding and friendship between China and Africa."
Chosen for the pilot, Hulumi village can now access satellite TV signals, joining the global digital TV family. A large number of high-definition, high-quality TV programs will enter the lives of villagers, enriching people's spiritual and cultural life, and strengthening the connection with the outside world.
Yakubu Ibn Muhammad, General manager of Nigeria state television, said, "The Nigerian federal government is actively engaging in the overall transformation of digital television, which aims to provide a Digital TV service to every Nigerian." He added that, "We are pleased that Sida Time Inc have been proactive in donating digital television to those poor communities, allowing them to enjoy the benefits of digital television. They set a good example, helping the government to raise people's living standards."
Yakubu Ibn Muhammad, General manager of Nigeria state television, speaks at the launch ceremony of a pilot satellite TV project held in Hulumi village in the suburbs of Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, on August 10, 2017. [Photo: China Plus]
So far the "10,000 Villages Connection" project has been piloted in more than a dozen villages in Tanzania, Mozambique, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, with Hulumi village is one of the first phase of pilot villages, taking possession of a variety of equipment, including satellite TV and projection TV facilities.
In the first phase of the project, 5 villages in Nigeria will benefit from the donation, two of them are in the Federal Capital Territory, and two in Nasarawa state, one in Kwara State.
The "10,000 villages connection" project plan eventually plans to provide access to digital television signals for more than 10,000 villages in 30 African countries.
The ceremony was also attended by Suleiman Adokwe, the Chairman of Nigeria Senate Information Committee; Aourou Shianfu oder Bangmi, Chairman of Nigeria information and ethics committee of the house of Representatives; Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of Nigeria information and culture Ministry; Muhammadu Bello, Minister of Abuja capital region Ministry; and Udoma Udo Udoma, Minister of Nigeria Budget and National Planning Ministry.
Afterwards there was a ribbon cutting for a donation ceremony for Hulumi primary school, during which Sida Inc pledged to repair dilapidated buildings, classrooms and various hardware facilities, and donate a large number of study materials for children, supporting the education of the Hulumi village primary school.
