BBC Hausa audiences to challenge a top Nigerian official for its season on power

BBC Hausa has secured an exclusive phone-in with Mr Nuhu Ribadu; Head, of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission in Nigeria for the BBC’s Who Runs Your World? season of programming.   The phone-in takes place on Nigeria’s Day of Independence, Saturday, 1 October at 05.30 – 06.00 GMT continuing at 19.30 – 20.30 GMT.  Mr Nuhu Ribadu will answer questions from listeners by telephone: +44 207 557 2610 and by text messaging: +44 778 620 2009. He is expected to be challenged on numerous issues including corruption and why Nigeria is amongst the 20 least-developed countries in the world.

BBC Hausa’s new breakfast show New Hausa Dawn will broadcast further programmes for the Who Runs Your World? season which explores where power lies in the 21st century.  Broadcasting everyday from Saturday, 17 September until Monday, 3 October at 05.30 – 06.00 GMT New Hausa Dawn will look at various aspects of power including the role of political godfathers in Nigeria, the affects of ecological changes in the Niger, the lives of cocoa farmers in Ghana and the influences of “Nollywood” on youth culture.

Jamilah Tangaza, Head of the BBC Hausa Service said: “BBC Hausa is always looking for new ways to interact with its audience and I believe this season of programming, which includes the Mr Nuhu Ribadu phone-in, will not only give our listeners the opportunity to experience the realities of life on the continent but also challenge those in power.  New Hausa Dawn is the perfect place to run our season of programmes on the theme of power.  This breakfast show is already proving to be very popular and the season will complement the news analysis, illustrated bulletins, human interest stories and music already available.”

Highlights from the BBC Hausa season of programming:

Does the political god-father run Nigeria’s democratic set-up?  Political Godfatherism means no Nigerian can ever dream of obtaining political power without a “big man” behind the scene.  But what happens when the aspirant attains a political position and falls out with the god-father?

Do movies run the lives of young people in Nigeria?  A big wind is blowing in Nigeria – Nigerian movies!  This programme explores what some sociologists and policy makers are arguing, that particular movies, like those with a theme on political thuggery or black magic, impact negatively on the lives of young people who make up the majority of buyers and watchers.

Does religion rule the lives of Nigerians? Many surveys show that religion plays a leading role in the lives of Nigerians. A recent BBC survey for the Who Runs Your World? season show religious leaders are the most trusted (85%) with 86% wanting to give them more power in their country. Social realities on the ground, in Nigeria, contradict that line of thinking. This programme in the season asks whether Nigerians use religion as a scam to cover-up all kinds of social vices? A retired civil servant was reported to have once said: "If Nigerians were to match in behaviour the level they say prayers or go to churches or mosques, the country would have been a paradise on earth."

Who runs the Nigerian village? Is it the village chief, the farm, a person’s herds of cows and goats, or the weekly market day? Life in the Nigerian Villages is a sharp contrast to life in the Nigerian capitals like Lagos and Abuja with different challenges and different priorities. The programme asks what shapes the life of the average villager in Nigeria?

Does money run the world of ordinary Nigerians? Nigerians are known as the “Italians of Africa”. They have earned this title by virtue of their love for fashion, flamboyance and high taste in life. But you cannot satisfy this crave without money…   Some argue that everyone is in a mad race to acquire big cash in a bid to look good while others say the race to acquire money is simply in order to live a decent life.  The programme explores whether Nigerians have become slaves to money.

Does the Sahel run the world of people from the Niger? Life is tough in Niger, as the Sahel shapes everyone who lives there. The programme explores how ecological changes, like poor rains, barrenness of the soil and other climactic calamities compel people to behave or live in a particular way.

Who runs the life of the cocoa farmers in Ghana? Ghana is home to many cocoa farmers – as a result many families depend on the produce as a means of sustenance. However cocoa price is not determined in Ghana, but in Western markets. Cocoa is cheap in Ghana, but sold expensively in the West. We look at the raw product in Ghana and the conditions it is planted, harvested and exported; then pick up at the other end of the chain by looking at the prices of chocolate, and when and how it is sold in an attempt to figure out who runs the life of the cocoa farmers of Ghana

Who Runs Your World? is the BBC's largest ever single-themed season of programmes.  Running from 16 September to 2 October, it will feature on all the BBC global news service - TV, radio and online - in English and in 42 other languages including Hausa, Swahili and Kinyarwanda/Kirundi.  The season explores power: who wants it; how it is used and how it is changing.  And it is not just about politics as every aspect of life comes under the Who Runs Your World? spotlight including religion, business, sport, entertainment and the family.  Special programmes include the five-part radio documentary Looking for Democracy, a debate on The Millennium Goals and an exploration of very personal relationships in the programme Face to Face.   For more information on Who Runs Your World? visit bbcnews.com/yourworld

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For further information contact:

Christine George, Assistant Publicist, BBC World Service | +44(0)207557 1142 christine.george@bbc.co.uk

Note for Editors

BBC Hausa delivers up-to-date information, news, current affairs, sports and entertainment to the global Hausa speaking community.  For text and audio, go to bbchausa.com

BBC World Service is an international radio and online broadcaster delivering programmes and services in 43 languages.  It uses multiple platforms to reach 149m listeners globally, including SW, AM, FM, digital satellite and cable channels.  It has more than 2,000 partner radio stations which take BBC content, and numerous partnerships supplying content to mobile phones.  Its international online sites include audio and visual content and offer users opportunities to interact directly with world events. They receive over 330m page impressions a month.

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