(Ecofin Agency) - The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has on Monday launched the first African digital service which aims to provide news, current affairs and analysis of Nigeria, West and Central Africa, in Pidgin.

With a production hub in Lagos, BBC Pidgin which targets the youth and women will offer online services in digital platforms. “For more than eighty years, the BBC World Service has brought trusted news to millions across the globe. I’m delighted that millions of people in Nigeria and beyond, will be able to access the BBC in such a popular language as Pidgin,” Francesca Unsworth, BBC World Service Director, said.

Pidgin is one of the most widely spoken languages across the West and Central Africa region, even though it is not officially recognized. It is mainly an oral language, lacking a standard agreed written form. In Nigeria alone, 75 million out of the over 180 million people in the country use it as their first language in day-to-day interactions.

With the introduction of this new service, BBC hopes to contribute to the development of the language. “We are so proud to be launching the BBC’s first digital service in Africa. Pidgin is the language spoken among so many people across West and Central Africa and for the first time, we will be connecting with the next generation of speakers. Pidgin is the common thread in the region, the language of unity spoken by people from all walks of life, and we are excited at the prospect of providing this service,” Bilkisu Labaran, the Editorial Lead of the new BBC service in Nigeria, added.

In addition to Pidgin, Nigerians will also be able to access services for Yoruba and Igbo soon. This will complement the current Hausa and English service.

Anita Fatunji