FRCN Sets Up Committee to Reposition National Broadcast Academy — DG Bulama
Kathy Kyari
The Director General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Dr. Mohammed Bulama, has revealed that the corporation has set up a committee to review and reposition the National Broadcast Academy (NBA) for higher academic and professional standards.
He made the disclosure during an interview with the Advance Journalism Students at the graduation ceremony of the 2025 Advanced Course of the Academy, where he congratulated the graduands and urged them to apply the knowledge acquired for the good of the profession and society.
“Well, congratulations, first and foremost. It is the foremost training academy in the country. So it's an opportunity for those of you who are going through this course to be exposed to the highest standard that we have here. I hope that what you learned here, you will put it to a very good use, for the benefit of, not only your career, but for humanity and the journalism profession as well,” he said.
Responding to a question on whether the Academy would be upgraded to award diplomas and degrees like other media schools, Bulama disclosed that the management is already taking decisive steps.
“We are not resting on our oars. We are thinking along those lines. As a matter of fact, just last week, we put a committee together to review the position of this institution so that we can properly reposition it,” he stated.
According to him, the committee has been given broad terms of reference that include reviewing the curriculum, the status of the school, its infrastructure, and even the possibility of renaming the institution. He added that the team would also explore collaborations that could elevate the Academy to global standards.
“Part of the terms of reference is for them to look at everything about the school — curriculum, the name, the status of the school and explore possibilities of us even partnering with other institutions so that we can upgrade the standard of the school,” Bulama explained.
The DG noted that the management is equally focused on improving the physical environment of the Academy, which he admitted has suffered years of neglect. “Hopefully, if you come this time next year, you should see a lot of changes,” he assured.
Speaking on broader challenges affecting FRCN, Bulama highlighted issues of aging infrastructure, obsolete equipment, power shortages, outdated technology, and the need for better staff welfare.
“We have very serious challenges—aging infrastructure, challenges of electricity power, challenges pertaining to our capacity to deploy cutting-edge technology, and challenges pertaining to training and retraining of our staff,” he said, adding that motivation and welfare also remain major concerns.
He noted that the decay in public broadcasting institutions has accumulated over three decades but stressed that the current administration is supporting ongoing reforms.
“You are not going to solve them overnight. But I want to assure you that we're addressing them. We are thinking outside the box and engaging partners, including the private sector,” he said.
On plans to introduce online courses, Bulama confirmed that the committee will also drive the Academy’s digital expansion.
“Of course, this is the digital era. If we don't keep pace, we'll be left behind. So we don't have a choice, and we are going to deploy digital resources,” he said.
The DG appealed for continued support and understanding from staff and stakeholders as the corporation works toward a comprehensive transformation of the National Broadcast Academy and the FRCN at large.
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