Founded
in
1961,
the
Voice
on
Nigeria
began
as
the
external
service
of
the
then
Nigerian
Broadcasting
Corporation
(now
Federal
Radio
Corporation
of
Nigeria).
The
station
was
commissioned
by
the
then
Prime
Minister,
Sir
Abubakar
Tafawa
Balewa
and
commenced
operations
on
the
first
of
January
1962.
The
nation's
growing
role
in
the
continent
informed
the
need
to
have
an
external
channel
through
which
authoritative
information
about
the
African
situation
could
be
disseminated
to
the
entire
world.
Even
then
its
transmission,
using
a
10KW
HF
transmitter,
was
limited
to
West
Africa
for
two
hours
daily
in
English
and
French.
Broadcast
hours
increased
to
six
in
1963
with
the
commissioning
of
five
prototype
RCA
100KW
transmitters.
In
1989,
five
Brown
Boveri
transmitters
with
antennae
system
were
acquired.
On
January
5
1990,
VON
became
autonomous,
and
in
1996,
three
250KW
Thomcast
AG
transmitters
were
commissioned.
This
boosted
VON's
transmission
to
the
entire
world.
The
transmitting
station
is
located
on
40
hectares
at
Ipokodo
in
Ikorodu,
in
the
South
western
state
of
Lagos.
While
the
Administrative
Headquarters
is
in
Abuja,
the
Federal
Capital,
News
and
Programmers
emanate
from
both
the
Lagos
and
Abuja
studios.
By
statute,
VON
shall,
among
others:
Provide
as a
public
service
in
the
interest
of
Nigeria,
radio
broadcasting
services
for
global
reception
in
such
time
as
the
Corporation
in
such
languages
and
at
such
time
as
the
Corporation
may
specify;
Erect,
maintain
and
operate
radio
transmitting
and
receiving
stations;
Enter
into
arrangement(s)
with
the
Federal
or
state
Governments,
Companies
Information
Centres,
Charitable
Organisations
and
Foreign
Bodies
for
the
purposes
of
obtaining
information
licenses,
right
or
privilege;
Collect,
receive,
provide
or
subscribe
to
the
News
Agency
of
Nigeria,
news
of
information
in
any
part
of
the
world
and
in
the
manner
the
Corporation
deems
fit;
Acquire
copyright;
Publish,
print
and
reproduce
any
matter
that
may
be
conducive
to
the
performance
of
any
of
its
functions
and
offer
for
sale
for
commercial
purposes
any
part
so
published,
printed
or
reproduced;
Produce,
manufacture,
purchase
and
acquire
tapes,
microphones,
loud-speakers,
gramophones,
mechanical
records
and
other
similar
equipment;
Provide
facilities
for
the
training,
advancement
and
enhancement
of
the
skill
and
efficiency
of
persons
employed
in
its
services
and
Carry
out
such
other
activities
as
are
necessary
or
expedient
for
the
full
discharge
of
all
or
any
of
the
functions
conferred
on
it.
