Determined to harness the
potential of the entertainment industry to improve the standard of
living of Nigerians, the Chinese Government has assured that
China-Africa cooperation will continue to address the challenges of
poverty and inequality in Africa through the “Access to Satellite TV for
10,000 African Villages” project anchored by Startimes.
Jonathan Eze writes on the significance of the project for rural communities.
Until 2017, several rural communities in
Nigeria and other countries of Africa were not as involved in enjoying
the opportunities afforded by the entertainment media industry to boost
the socio-
economic development of the continent, a problem that received
the attention of the Chinese government.
The President of China, Xi Jinping
expressed the commitment of his government to boosting the quality of
life in Africa when he assured that China would implement access to
satellite TV for ten thousand villages across Africa, as one of the
major cooperation programs to boost cooperation between China and
Africa. Apart from establishing enviable diplomatic ties between China
and the countries of Africa, the programme is already boosting the
economy of the beneficiary communities while paving way for
dissemination of information in a manner that will create socioeconomic
development in Africa.
It could be recalled that at the
launching ceremony of Access to Satellite TV for 10,000 African Villages
of Nigeria, the CEO, Startimes Nigeria, Mr. Justin Zhang said the
project was possible as a result of the concern and promise made by
Chinese President Xi Jinping, that China would implement access to
satellite TV for ten thousand villages across Africa, as one of the
major cooperation programs to boost cooperation between China and
Africa, adding that out of the 10,000 Villages, Nigeria alone will get
1,000 and Startimes is playing a major role as the facilitator of the
project across various African countries that will benefit.
Discussing efforts put in place by
Startimes toward the execution of the project, Zhang said: “Startimes
has installed two solar power projector TVs for the community, one 32
inches digital TV set with solar system, twenty Satellite dish and
decoders where they can watch more than 100 international and local
channels,” adding that the two solar-powered projector TVs and 32’
digital TV are for public use and free of charge.
He explained that the project also led
to creation of jobs for citizens of African countries stating that
“Nigerians from various villages have been trained on how to recharge,
operate and provide the required maintenance support for all the
products installed.”
Discussing one of the viable economic
opportunities that the project will create for Nigerians and Africans in
general, the Startimes CEO explained that Startimes will ensure that
people of Africa will become dealers of the products as time goes on,
adding that StarTimes is encouraged to work together successfully with
both the Chinese and Nigerian government, and to put long lasting smiles
on the faces the children and adults that would benefit from the
exposure they get from the access to satellite TV.
While saying that Startimes has been
making families happy since the company came into the Pay TV market in
2010, he assured that it will continue to provide every Africa family
affordable and enjoyable digital TV service, adding that Nigeria
currently has over four million subscribers nationwide and more than 10
million users of our StarTimes ON mobile APP, StarTimes can be watched
in every Nigerian city including the North East.
In a related development, the Chinese
Ambassador to Nigeria, Zhou Pingjian expressed China’s willingness to
continue to bring projects that will better the lot of Nigerians and
Africans at large, assuring that that the friendship between China and
Nigeria will be preserved via infrastructural projects that will uplift
the people of the local communities who need it the most.
He recalled that on December 4th 2015,
President of China, Xi Jinping announced at the Johannesburg Summit of
the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation that China would implement
satellite TV programs for 10 thousand African villages. The project,
known as “Access to Satellite TV for 10,000 African Villages”, is part
of China-Africa cooperation programs and is aimed at enabling African
families in rural areas to have access to the digital signal with
high-quality images and rich TV programs.
It is pertinent to note that the project
has gained wide acceptance by the people of Africa. A survey conducted
recently among communities benefitting from the project shows the
willingness of the rural dwellers to continue to enjoy the advantages of
the project.
The District Head, Hulumi Community, Mr
Dimas Daniel commended the project and discussed the beneficial impacts
to his community saying: “The project being executed by Startimes has
positively changed our community, because it has been able to connect
Hulumi community to the global society,” adding that it exposes the
people of Hulumi community to foreign cultures, songs and engagements.
The District Head of Hulumi further
explained that interesting episodes in the Channels of Startimes helps
people to learn the English language and other interesting aspects of
life that were not known to Hulumi community.
Discussing the challenge experienced by
the community, the District Head said: “We are happy for the project,
but the problem we sometimes have is the inability to reset the dish
when it shifts position, because we don’t have the technical expertise
to do so.
It could be recalled that the CEO,
Startimes Nigeria has assured that as a way of crating job opportunities
for the communities, Startimes will train indigenous personnel who will
be able to fix such problems as well as become dealers on equipment
used in maintenance of the installed projects.
In a related development, residents of
benefiting communities buttressed the position of the District Head as
they agree on the benefits of the project.
A resident of Hulumi community who
witnessed the launching of the project in 2017, Mr Bako Auta discussed
his experience saying: “I remember how happy we were that evening in
2017 when Startimes distributed the decoders and TV sets and other
equipment to us in the village. I also remember that so many people had
to use generators to view the programa because it was so interesting and
we have continued to benefit from it.
While saying that “everybody in Hulumi
Community has continued to benefit from the project, because Startimes
dishes are mounted for all and the programs shown by the Startimes
channels are very interesting,” adding that since the commencement of
the project in 2017, Hulumi village has been happy to be included in the
project.
Discussing the social significance of
the Starimes Project, Mr Auta said: “My most favorite channels are the
foreign shows featured by Startimes, I prefer them because it makes me
know what life is like on the side of the world,” stating that before
the project, there was no way the person of Hulumi Community could
connect with the foreign scene.
“I have seen so many things happening in
the international scene across the sports sector, mechanised
agriculture and cultivation of land in some countries that have the
technical ability to engage in it, love movies and diplomatic
relationship between countries and news among other things.”
“I learnt a lot from the channels and I
sometimes practice what I leant through the Statimes TV Programs,” he
said, adding that as Class Teacher responsible for pupils, he found it
important to share the knowledge with the pupils.
A resident of Kpadama village also said:
“Since the project was commissioned in 2017, we had opportunity to
watch so many happenings that we were not aware of,” adding that the
network is good.
He appealed to Startimes to extend the
gesture to villages that are yet to benefit from the project, stating
that it offers very important advantages to rural communities. “I play
football and I a great fan of football, so I love watching the football
channels on Startimes because they sharpen my skills and make me a
better footballer.” he added.
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