Johannesburg, South Africa — An impartial worldwide public coverage suppose tank, the South African Institute of Worldwide Affairs (SAIIA), yesterday stated that good commerce, diplomatic and bilateral relations between Nigeria and South Africa would positively impression the African continent.
Programme Head, African Governance and Diplomacy, SAIIA, Steven Gruzd, stated this in a gathering with the third cohort of the MTN-sponsored Media Innovation Programme (MIP) on the SAIIA, College of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg.
Whereas talking on: “Assessing the Nigeria- South African Bilateral Relations and the Positive aspects and the Losses”, Gruzd stated: If South Africa and Nigeria are working collectively; if the relations are sturdy; if there may be good commerce; and if there may be good diplomatic relations, it actually makes a distinction and it actually can pull up the remainder of the continent.”
Lamenting that there had been extra consideration on different issues that get in the best way of what actually is a important relationship for the continent, he added that tensions will makes issues far more troublesome for the continent to develop.
“There’s a lot work to be executed and we name on our leaders to actually ensure that it is a sturdy reciprocal relationship that may final for generations as a result of it advantages the continent if each nations have the most effective relationship as a result of they have not taken their place within the world stage.
“The South African Institute of Worldwide Affairs has a imaginative and prescient of a effectively ruled, steady, peaceable continent and initiatives like this may actually assist us in that mission as a result of we get to know Nigerians, we get to grasp a number of the points which are motivating the media in Nigeria and it simply helps us with making a platform for dialogue which is what we’re all about and it actually provides us a chance to strengthen the relations between our two international locations,” he added.
On the thorny challenge of xenophobia and the rivalry between South Africa and Nigeria, he stated it lingered this lengthy as a result of the SA authorities had prior to now been denying its existence.
“The federal government saved denying it as a result of they could not convey themselves to consider it. Foreigners are blamed for crime and taking their jobs and a few teams construct their tickets on this anti-immigration, thus fuelling the state of affairs.
“Based on a 2017 BBC World Service Ballot, 53 per cent of Nigerians view South Africa’s affect positively, with 27 per cent expressing a adverse view. That is the bottom Nigerian constructive notion of South Africa ever reported by the ballot since polling started in 2009, with the 2014 ballot reporting 65 per cent of Nigerians viewing South Africa’s affect positively and 17 per cent expressing a adverse view,” he stated.
Additionally talking on “Pan-Africanism, Nigeria South Africa Relations: The Function of the Media” he first counseled MTN for the MIP initiative and the research tour to South Africa, including that it’ll go a protracted approach to propagate Pan-Africanism,
On the commerce relations between each nations, he stated there have been far much less Nigerian companies in South Africa than there have been South African companies in Nigeria, which threw up the visa challenges that goes each methods.
The 20 fellows and their Nigerian coordinators- PAU SMC Director Skilled Schooling, Prof. Isaac-Ogugua Ezechukwu; Funso Aina, Senior Supervisor, Exterior Relations at MTN Nigeria; Public Relations Supervisor MTN Nigeria, Dr. Lakinbofa Goodluck and Samsideen Akano, SMC Advertising and Coordination, additionally visited the South African Broadcasting Company (SABC).
Through the tour of Metro FM, Siyauda Izkelephi, Programmer Supervisor Metro FM, stated: “as an organisation, we’re at some extent the place now the South African authorities, are focusing on the SABC as a key asset of presidency.”
With their 6million listeners throughout the digital and terrestrial platforms, he stated they’ve a mandate for accountable journalism the place none of their programmes should hurt one other African.
Harping on the significance of integrity, he stated they guarantee they get the actual fact earlier than the information is used and has since earned them the sobriquet from South Africans that “If it is not on SABC but, we are going to wait”.
Acknowledging that African journalists should appropriate these narratives between each nations, one of many fellows, Nkechi Ogbonna stated: “One factor that stood out is the attention opener to the commerce disparity between Nigeria and South Africa.
“It is crucial for African international locations to start to commerce amongst themselves to spice up their economies and strengthen their native currencies. Secondly, Nigeria and South Africa have lengthy standing relations nonetheless sure incidents have pushed some adverse narratives.
“It’s subsequently the duty of media practitioners to confirm data from authorities in each international locations, holding them accountable and offering a platform for the reality to be advised.”
