Africa: BBC Radio
(asked on 15th October 2020) - View Source
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of BBC radio on (1) attitudes, and (2) lives, in Africa.
Answered by
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) strongly supports the BBC's mission to bring high quality and impartial news to African audiences, including where free speech is limited. FCDO investment into the BBC World Service via the World2020 programme has led to expansions in radio offerings for services in Nigeria, Eritrea and Ethiopia. In 2020, over 50% of Nigerians surveyed said that the BBC informs their world view, which demonstrates the impact of the World Service in one of its largest markets (GAM 2020*).
Our investment has also helped the BBC to produce its award-winning investigative programme, Africa Eye, which shines a light on issues that local journalists are unable to investigate. For instance, Africa Eye's 'Sex for Grades' investigation led to the Nigerian senate introducing a bill which would criminalise sexual harassment in universities.
*Source: BBC Global Audience Measure 2020