BBC unveils Igbo, Yoruba channels

BBC World Service has launched channels for Igbo and Yoruba speakers in Nigeria and West and Central Africa.

The Igbo and Yoruba channels went live online yesterday, coming 60 years after the launch of the BBC’s Hausa feed and one year after the debut of its Pidgin service.

The channels will feature original content on various issues that resonate with viewers, including politics, technology, entrepreneurship, culture and female affairs. They will also feature BBC Minute, a 60-second global news round-up.

Speaking about the new services, BBC head of West Africa Oluwatoyosi Ogunseye said: “Delivering content and engaging with the Igbo and Yoruba audiences in their mother tongues is authentic, exciting and refreshing. The BBC is passionate about original journalism that adds value and this is what we want to achieve with these services. These platforms will deliver independent, objective and original news to meet the needs of our audiences in Nigeria and West Africa.”

The channels are mainly targeting viewers using mobile phones. They can be viewed at bbc.com/yoruba and bbc.com/igbo as well as via Facebook and Instagram.

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