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  • OAPs recount experiences on YouTube

    OAPs recount experiences on YouTube

    •As platform marks 10 years of video sharing

    It was a night of glamour as YouTube hosted top Nigerian YouTube content creators at a dinner to mark 10 years of its video sharing experiences.

    The event, which took place at the Intercontinental Hotel and Resort on Victoria Island, Lagos, had the likes of Olisa Adibua, Toke Makinwa and Ariyike Akinbobola among others in attendance.

    Speaking at the event, Adibua, a veteran broadcaster recounted how he got inspired while growing up in the United Kingdom and how he got a contract job with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA 5) at the age of 17 when he arrived Nigeria.

    He further noted that he contributed to the success stories of many Nigerian artistes, naming popular musicians like Eldee, StyPlus, D-Banj among those he helped to boost their careers, especially through Big Brother Nigeria.

    The co-founder of Storm Records and one of the brains behind Big Brother Nigeria however, advised younger on-air-personalities (OAP) on how to excel on the job.

    He said: “When you are on radio for instance, you have an instant power. I’ve several times paid fines to the National Broadcasting Commission. But why do I have to pay this much to them, when they are richer than me.

    “I tell young people to read a lot, because not reading wide is their problem. They don’t read. They believe presentation is just all about sitting in front of the camera. If you must succeed in this business especially in the global scale, you have to read about different things going on within your locality and around the world.

    “If you want to interview a person, it is just wise for you to do a background check about the person. So you need to read to be ahead of your interviewee.”

    For Toke Makinwa of TokeMoment, her passion for what she does has been the backbone of her continuity.

    On TokeMoment, she runs a regular monologue on everything from self-improvement to relationship issues in a loose and funny manner.

    “When I started out on YouTube, I was not aware of the financial benefits of using YouTube. I would just upload videos and be happy that they get good number of views. It was much later in 2013 that I got to know that I could monetize my contents to earn money.

    “I find joy when I run into ladies at shopping malls outside the country and they identify me and can easily relate their issues with me. It gives me a lot of joy. You know, usually, people like to talk to someone who does not know them about the issues, TokeMoment has filled that space.

    “Uploading a new video every Wednesday has not been easy for me but I also know that the key thing about YouTube is consistence and I have kept at it. I must confess that YouTube has been a huge source of blessing to my life,” she recounted.

    Meanwhile, for Akinbobola, lawyer and mother of two, YouTube is an avenue for people to gather a lot of experiences and remain loyal to who they are.

    “On YouTube, I talk about relationship dynamics. I have in the past done videos on YouTube on how to spy on your nannies; I have also done videos on parenting,” she said.”But you know what, the views I get on my channel aren’t up to 5, 000. But when I don’t box myself, and do freestyle videos, amazingly, I get over 100,000 views.”

    Akinbobola, who does videos on sex and relationship, further said that her contents had been greeted with stream of criticisms, stressing: “Well, my channel is not for babies, but for adults.

    “Most times when I talk about sex, people tend to look at me as ifý it’s a no-go-area, but as a married woman, this is something I do, even, people who are not married do this. So, why do we shy away discussing it?”

    Speaking on the event, Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, West Africa Communication and Public Affairs Manager said the event was aimed at leveraging the 10th anniversary of YouTube to spotlight Nigerians who in spite of all odds are constantly sharing content, and by so doing, are building their own fan bases.

    He said, “There are now more than one million channels earning revenue through the YouTube Partnership Program, in more than 30 countries, and it’s exciting to see more Partners coming on board in Nigeria too. Globally, partner revenue across YouTube has increased by 60% over the past year and partner revenue from mobile ad sales has tripled.”

    It will be recalled that in 2014, YouTube views in Nigeria increased by 78%, while views of Nigerian content increased by 95% – a testament of the role YouTube is playing in the export of Nigerian content.

    The video-sharing website headquartered in San Bruno, California, United States has become the go-to destination for video footage on the web.  The volume of content unites people from all walks of life through video.

    The night tagged: “YouTube & the Stars event” also had YouTube content group creators like Naija’s Craziest and TechCityNG.

  • Court restrains NTA, AIT over anti-Osinbajo documentaries

    The Federal High Court in Lagos has restrained Daar Communications Plc and the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) from broadcasting any video documentaries against All Progressives Congress (APC) vice-presidential candidate Prof Yemi Osinbajo (SAN).

    Justice John Tsoho made the order yesterday following an ex-parte application by Osinbajo.

    Daar Communications (owners of African Independent Television (AIT), NTA and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) are the respondents.

    Justice Tsoho ordered that status quo be maintained pending the hearing and determination of the applicant’s motion on notice for interlocuctory injunction.

    The motion ex-parte, filed on March 10, was moved by Osinbajo’s counsel Mr Femi Falana (SAN).

    The judge ordered: “That an order of interim injunction shall be considered with notice to the respondents. Generally, however, the status quo as at today shall be maintained pending hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.”

    Justice Tsoho also granted the applicant leave to serve the Originating Summons and other accompanying court processes on the respondents in Abuja, which is outside the court’s jurisdiction.

    Osinbajo had prayed for “an order of interim injunction restraining the respondents, their agents, privies, representatives and other media entities under the control of the third respondent (NBC) from any interference with or violation of the applicant’s right to dignity of human person, right to privacy and right to life and/or livelihood whether by means of publication or dissemination of any video documentary or by any means whatsoever pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice for Interlocutory Injunction.

    Justice Tsoho adjourned till tomorrow for hearing of the motion on notice.

    Osinbajo alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had been sponsoring defamatory documentaries against him.

    AIT and NTA had, for weeks, been broadcasting a documentary detailing the “atrocious” past of the APC  presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).

    The station also aired a similar documentary on APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, chronicling his series of alleged financial misconduct.

    Osinbajo maintained that the documentaries, which allegedly contained untrue information and injurious falsehood, constitute a personal attack on his person.

    He argued that the videos were being aired in violation of his fundamental human right to dignity of human person, right to privacy and family virtue and right to life and/or livelihood as protected by Sections 33, 34 and 37 of the 1999 Constitution.

    ”Unless the respondents are restrained in the manner requested in this application, damages will be grossly inadequate to compensate or redress the unquantifiable, unwarranted and malicious damage to the applicant’s right to dignity of human person, right to livelihood and privacy guaranteed and protected under Sections 33, 34 and 37 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

    After listening to Falana’s submission, Justice Tsoho ordered that NTA and AIT  and any other broadcast station should forthwith stop the broadcast of the damaging documentary which the applicant complained of until the determination of the substantive suit.

  • Court restrains NTA, AIT over anti-Osinbajo documentaries

    Court restrains NTA, AIT over anti-Osinbajo documentaries

    The Federal High Court in Lagos has restrained Daar Communications Plc and the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) from broadcasting any video documentaries against All Progressives Congress (APC) Vice-Presidential candidate Prof Yemi Osinbajo (SAN).

    Justice John Tsoho made the order Wednesday following an ex-parte application by Osinbajo.

    Daar Communications (owners of African Independent Television (AIT), NTA and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) are the respondents. The suit is numbered FHC/L/CS/277/2015.

    Justice Tsoho ordered that status quo be maintained pending the hearing and determination of the applicant’s motion on notice for interlocuctory injunction.

    The motion ex-parte, filed on March 10, was moved by Osinbajo’s counsel Mr. Femi Falana (SAN).

    The judge ordered: “That an order of interim injunction shall be considered with notice to the respondents. Generally, however, the status quo as at today shall be maintained pending hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.”

    Justice Tsoho also granted the applicant leave to serve the Originating Summons and other accompanying court processes on the respondents in Abuja, which is outside the court’s jurisdiction.

    Osinbajo had prayed for “an order of interim injunction restraining the respondents, their agents, privies, representatives and other media entities under the control of the third respondent (NBC) from any interference with or violation of the applicant’s right to dignity of human person, right to privacy and right to life and/or livelihood whether by means of publication or dissemination of any video documentary or by any means whatsoever pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice for Interlocutory Injunction.

    Justice Tsoho adjourned till tomorrow for hearing of the motion on notice.

    Osinbajo alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had been sponsoring defamatory documentaries against him.

    AIT and NTA had, for weeks, been broadcasting a documentary detailing the “atrocious” past of the APC presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).

    The station also aired a similar documentary on APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, chronicling his series of alleged financial misconduct.

    Osinbajo maintained that the documentaries, which allegedly contained untrue information and injurious falsehood, constitute a personal attack on his person.

    He argued that the videos were being aired in violation of his fundamental human right to dignity of human person, right to privacy and family virtue and right to life and/or livelihood as protected by Sections 33, 34 and 37 of the 1999 Constitution.

    “Unless the respondents are restrained in the manner requested in this application, damages will be grossly inadequate to compensate or redress the unquantifiable, unwarranted and malicious damage to the applicant’s right to dignity of human person, right to livelihood and privacy guaranteed and protected under Sections 33, 34 and 37 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

    After listening to Falana’s submission, Justice Tsoho ordered that NTA and AIT and any other broadcast station should forthwith stop the broadcast of the damaging documentary which the applicant complained of until the determination of the substantive suit.

    Tinubu had threatened to sue the management of Daar Communications for the defamatory content of the documentary.

    His counsel Mr. Tunji Abayomi, through a letter delivered to Daar Communications, asked the organisation to apologise for the content and stop its airing.

    The letter reads in part: “…You aired an hour-long documentary focusing on our client (Bola Tinubu). Clearly pre-occupied with political resentment and hatred neither warranted, necessary, proper, or justified, you published several false allegations against our client… More disturbing is your misrepresentation that the said documentary was “sponsored” without disclosing the “sponsors”. You cannot under law hide under media freedom to maliciously injure a citizen’s reputation”.

    The letter also demanded N20 billion as cost of damage done to the reputation of Asiwaju Tinubu, failing which the client will sue the company.

    “To affirm the right of our client against your defamatory publication, we demand that you confirm to us within 24 hours of receipt of this letter, an apology and retraction of the said publication/documentary,” the letter added.

  • Ben Murray-Bruce for Senate

    Ben Murray-Bruce for Senate

    A former Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Mr Ben Murray-Bruce, is seeking the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to contest the senatorial seat for Bayelsa East in 2015.

    Murray-Bruce, who is also the Chairman of Silverbird Group, submitted his nomination form yesterday at the PDP state secretariat in Yenagoa, the state capital.

    He was accompanied to the secretariat by a crowd from Brass, Ogbia and Nembe, the three local government areas under the senatorial district.

    Murray-Bruce promised to fight poverty through appropriate legislation.

    While Ikisikpo hails from Kolo Creek in Ogbia Local Government Area, Murray-Bruce is from Akassa in Brass Local Government Area.

    Murray-Bruce said: “I am running for the Senate because I am interested in making changes. I am not interested in business as usual. Many things have gone wrong in the country and a lot of them can be traced in the chamber. I want to be part of. If we fix these problems, we fix the Nigerian problem…”

     

     

     

  • Spirit of activism

    ONE thing is certain: people will not give up arguing about correct usage in English. Happily, the spirit of (language) activism is alive and well. As a word-watcher (from the Word Watch School), how do you feel or react when you read: “…expired politicians, court jesters and political fuddy-duddies parade themselves as icons?” (THE NATION ON SUNDAY EDITORIAL, August 31, 2014). Yes, “expired politicians” are dead politicians! Do the dead come back to parade on the political scene? Only in Nigeria! Holy terror!

    Another note: “sheathe” and “sheath” are both verbs in American English (AE); you can sheathe a knife, a cutlass and a sword, but, in practical terms, you can’t sheathe a machete!

    “Mail”, meaning “letters, parcels, etc by post”, is an uncountable noun—it has no plural form. “Mails” is a piece of Nigerianism, Nigerian English (NE) or English made in Nigeria!

    Evidences? “…but fails abysmally in giving concrete “evidences” (evidence) of such claims.” “Evidence”, meaning “information that gives reason for believing something; proof “(e.g. in a law case), is an uncountable noun. It has no plural form. We correctly say or write: enough evidence, some evidence, a mass of evidence, a piece of evidence or pieces of evidence.

    Standard-bearers or flag-bearers? “Group insists PDP, APC should pick Christians as “flag-bearers” (standard-bearers). In politics, music, etc, it is “standard-bearer”, in games, sports, etc., it is “flag-bearer” or “torchbearer”.

    “Know/Knowing full well” is Briticism while “Know/Knowing fully well” is an Americanism.

    Work harder and keep watching, brother!

    (Bayo Oguntunase/Language Activist/Adoro62@yahoo.co.uk) 

    COLUMNIST’S ADDENDUM: Some dictionaries could be misleading. When I saw ‘evidences’ in one of the extracts published last week, I immediately knew that something was wrong with the word, as now pointed out. I told my son to check up the word in Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (2010 Eighth Edition). We discovered that it was both countable and uncountable. Based on this, I allowed the entry to go! When Mr. Oguntunase intervened, I checked dictionaries and discovered that it was non-count! In fact, Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English New Edition for Advanced Learners, 2013 Edition) declares categorically: “Evidence is an uncountable noun and has no plural form. Use a singular verb after it: Vital evidence was destroyed.” The reaffirmation I get from this revelation is that it is not everything that is in some dictionaries that is correct! So, there is need to critically and selectively drink from the fountain of as many dictionaries as possible in order to be on the safe side. We must therefore develop circumspective and interrogative capacities in the use of language.

    From last week: “…but fails woefully (abysmally) in giving concrete evidences (evidence) of such claims.” (NATIONAL MIRROR, September 11)

    Do not say ‘true evidence’, but ‘reliable evidence’. (Longman)

    SUNDAY ADESINA (08029955388): You are right on ‘outright’ being both an adjective and adverb. ‘Outrightly’ is not just uncommon, but queer and unknown to standard etymological entries.

    “Boko Haram peace talks reopens” Why the disagreement? This kind of ‘schoolboy howler’, in the words of Mr. Oguntunase, should not be seen in standard publications.

    “CBN intervention bouys naira” Get it right: buoys.

    “You must be matured and in love with jazz music.” (Lifestyle) Just ‘mature’.

    The next three errors are from NTA Network News of September 18: “…who presided at the occasion.” NTA correspondents should be refreshed: the preposition that goes before ‘occasion’ is ‘on’ (not ‘at’)

    “He said that the ministry intends (intended) to restore back….” ‘Restore back’ shows unintelligibility. With ‘restore’, you can’t have ‘back’. We shouldn’t use words we don’t understand their meanings (or implications). The English language has evolved from the old period to the modern era. So, journalists must avoid Anglo-Saxon expressions.

    “Each of the stadia was provided with practicing pitch.” It is not the pitches that practise as implied in the statement. Therefore, the sensible phrase ought to be ‘practice pitch.’ Lexical and semantic appropriateness demands this line of thought.

    “Captain…wedded former Miss…in Lagos over the weekend with pomp and pageantry.” ‘Pomp and pageantry’ is not an accepted phrase. The standard expression is ‘pomp and circumstance’ or ‘pomp and ceremony.’ It can simply be left as ‘pomp’. If you don’t remember these forms, rephrase. At least, you can always recollect that the Nigerian creation (pomp and pageantry) is uneducated.

    “Truely, Jos is a home of peace and tourism.” Correct form: truly.

    “This development is unlike in some states where education have (sic) died a natural death…” (DAILY CHAMPION) Indeed, education has died in Champion House!

    “Public affairs analysts of the most diverse persuasions are agreed on one thing: the world is at a crossroad (a/the crossroads).”

    “It is therefore noteworthy that the AU has now seen the wisdom in pooling the resources of member-states together to prevent ugly incident (sic)….” (NIGERIAN TRIBUNE, September 19) When resources are pooled, there is no need for ‘together’.

    “The hopes of millions of our countrymen are centred around us.” (THISDAY, September 19) ‘Centre’ admits ‘on’, ‘round,’ ‘upon’… never ‘around’.

    “Unclaimed properties of accident victims”  ‘Property’ in this context is non-count. It can only take the plural form if buildings and acres of land are involved—or for scientific references.

    “Yes, Nigerians love to eat traditional meals with their bare fingers but that is not to say we can’t provide foreigners with cutleries.” (Tourism & Hospitality) ‘Cutlery’ is uncountable.

    Wrong: very unique; Right: unique; Wrong: transport fare; Right: fare;

     

  • NBC: Nigeria ‘ll meet ITU’s June deadline

    NBC: Nigeria ‘ll meet ITU’s June deadline

    Nigeria’s broadcast sector regulator, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), has assured that the country will meet the next June next deadline set by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) for television stations in Africa to migrate from analogue broadcasting to digital terrestrial television (DTT), adding that the date remained sacrosanct.

    Mba spoke at a breakfast session jointly organised by Advertisers’ Association of Nigeria (ADVAN) and Media Independent Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MIRAN) in Lagos at the weekend.

    The country has less than ten months to meet the deadline. The NBC started pilot implementation of the project in strife-torn Jos, the capital of Plateau State.

    Its Director General, Emeka Mba said after the ITU deadline, there would be no more international support for analogue spectrum as any operator still operating on the platform would have been technically edged out.

    He said in pursuit of meeting the ITU deadline, the Federal Government had finalised and harmonised discussions over the transmission network parameters with all Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) member states.

    According to him, specifications for the Basic Set Top Box and Digital Television Receivers had also been finalised with other countries in the sub-region to ensure a seamless transition.

    He said contrary to the era where there was no separation of functions in the broadcast industry, there will indeed be separation of responsibilities under the new dispensation.

    According to him, broadcasters would be responsible for content while a Signal Distributor or Carrier would be saddled with Transmission of the Signals to viewers.

    Aside the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), the NBC chief said the Federal Government would license two other Signal Carriers for optimum benefit for viewers across the country, adding that the Federal Government has begun the process of licensing the second Signal Distributor.

    Mba said the focus of the NBC was on ensuring more broadcasting services are created such that the gaps in the industry are effectively addressed.

    He said: “Our focus at the NBC is promoting more broadcasting services to fill current gaps in content and services such as themed channels, special interest channels, educational and children’s channels, regional channels as well as new HD services.”

    According to him, the regulatory body will encourage interoperability through the use of open standards as well as credible audience measurement and advertising.

    ITU Secretary-General, Dr Hamadoun Toure, said the June 2015 deadline was agreed upon by the 193 members of the organisation. This consist governments as well as 70 private sector members.

    Toure said: “We knew it was doable when we set the migration deadline in 2005. The benefits of the migration exercise to both consumers as well as broadcasters are also enormous.”

    He added that the migration exercise will lead to freeing up of about one-third of frequencies which can then be used for the provision of other services.

    He however stressed the need for collaboration among existing analogue broadcasters, advertisers, regulators, content producers and government as a necessary yardstick for the success of the ITU initiative.

    President, MIPAN, Mr. Tolu Ogunkoya, said digitisation of the industry would bring real transformation in the nation’s broadcast industry in terms of content development, quality service and job creation.

    According to him, the initiative would definitely signpost a new era for operators for open and keen competition. “For me, this is the start-off of the relationship. There is definitely going to be a transformation,” he said.

    His ADVAN counterpart, Mr. Kola Ayeni, said he was aware of the prevailing scarcity of spectrums in the country; assuring that digitisation would help to address the issue.

  • Akwa Ibom indigenes seek review of Amnesty Office’s scholarship beneficiaries

    Many indigenes of Akwa Ibom are not happy with the Amnesty Office. Reason: they say the office’s recently released list of beneficiaries of one of its scholarship scheme is skewed against their state. They say the list did not reflect their state’s status as a major oil-bearer.

    One of those who have spoken against the list is the pioneer National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Anietie Okon.

    During the week, he decried  the 254 names published by the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta as  the beneficiaries of the special scholarship programme for students from the Niger Delta.

    He said: “We are forced to question whether the Office of the Special Adviser on Amnesty is still representing the interest of the people of the region, given the persistent exclusivity that has become evident in the execution of the brief and mandate of the office.”

    Okon, a delegate representing Akwa Ibom State at the National Conference, reacting to the list, urged President Goodluck Jonathan to draw the attention of the Special Adviser on Niger Delta, Kingsley Kuku, to what he termed a grave and an unacceptable anomaly with its attendant capacity to undermine the intent and standing of governments and the leadership of the region.

    The office on August 1 published  a list of 254 people as the beneficiaries of the special scholarship programme for students from the Niger Delta, who passed the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and are qualified for admission into the universities.

    According to the list, of a total of 254 beneficiaries, Akwa Ibom got three; Bayelsa, 102; Cross River, three; Delta, 55; Edo, 10; Imo, 10; Ondo, 43 and Rivers, 28.

    Okon noted that it was embarrassing for a state like Akwa Ibom, the leading oil producing state, to be allocated only three; Edo State, the cradle of knowledge to get only 10, while Bayelsa got 102.

    He stressed that it was a confirmation of the narrow prismed understanding “of the dynamics of our political survival realities and an unfortunate exhibition of misplaced callous insensitivity as well as political naivety”, adding that the move was capable of  “damaging the cohesion and shared common interest of the people of the region.”

    He added: “It is a callous act of insensitivity and political naivety on the part of the Special Adviser on Niger Delta, to posit that justice and transparency prevailed where only three students from Akwa Ibom and Cross River states and 10 from Edo State enjoyed the scholarship. This can damage the purpose of the intervention initiative. It makes nonsense of the call for unanimity in the area. The mindless impunity implied is as grievous as it is equally pathetic.  How can they explain this absence of rationality? It is unacceptable. I demand that those responsible for this outrage get real.”

    The Ekid people of Akwa Ibom also flayed the list.

    In a letter to Hon. Bassey Dan-Abia jnr, member,representing Eket Federal Constituency

    House of Representatives, they said: “When we read the story, our first impression was to thank God almighty that you are still in the House of Representatives, contrary to the impression in the minds of our people in Eket(Eket/Onna/Esit Eket/Ibeno) Federal Constituency, that we have nobody in that hallowed “Green” Chamber since the 2012 eclipse.?

    ”Further note that, our concern in the story at hand is that of alarm and outrage. We can still not comprehend, how a member representing a core oil state, one that you rightly noted, holds the reputation as the highest oil producing state, would have stood by and the entire processes of award of scholarship for oil producing states are completed and published without even a slot for Eket Federal Constituency.?

    ”Aware that, the process may have commenced with the advertisement of the award, then proceeded to the stage of application, screening and then shortlisting of qualified applicants, before the announcement of those selected.?

    ”Further aware that, in all of these stages, our member never deemed it expedient to alert his people on what was going on. The youths of this constituency were never in any way informed of what was going on to enable them even apply.?

    ”Worried that, it appears our honourable member was held up in his infamous “bird house theatre of absurdities” when other representatives in the House,were lobbying for their people, only for him to wake up with a self-serving press statement when all the processes had been concluded.?

    ”Further worried that, we do not understand what you  as our honourable member sort to achieve by issuing an ineffectual press release, when you have all the legislative powers of oversight, appropriation and other instruments and network at your disposal to tame the angst. Not to worry; we understand. You cannot give what you do not have. Your belated show of Dutch-courage cannot fool anybody, because we are sure you don’t even know where the Amnesty(Kuku’s) office is located in Abuja.?

    “Regret to mourn with you the loss of yet another opportunity to invest in the lives of young people in our constituency and hasten to tell you that, we are not in the least surprised at this turn of event. Honourable member, why this sudden feeble attempt at “fighting” for your people? Where were you all this time when our constituency as a major oil bearing area has lost out in various other federal government initiatives meant for oil producing areas??

    ”Disturbed and want to know where you placed Eket Federal Constituency’s interest on the interventionist programmes by the same Amnesty office such as Overseas Special Scholarship Programme and Retooling/Skill Acquisition in Welding, Fabrication, Piloting, Instrument, payment of skill gap stipends? How far have you gone in the protection and actualization of the projects your predecessor facilitated in the National Budget including NTA Channel 35, Eket; 8no.Primary Health centres at Akpautong; Uquo; Edor; Etebi; Okat; Ikot Ntan Ide; Afaha Atai; Ikot Nkan, which contracts were awarded by the Primary Health Development Agency and equipment supplied; even as we continue to face challenging public health predicament in our Constituency?Again, what has happened to the Ntan Ide-Ikot Udo bridge, onna; Cross River Basin Irrigation and Canal farm at Onna;Upenekang e-library;the Federal Ministry of Environment Mkpok-Okat Erosion Control/Drainage Contract; agricultural infrastructure in Nduo Eduo, Eket.”

  • Star Times takes digital TV to 32 states

    Star Times takes digital TV to 32 states

    Star Times has said that its partnership with the Nigerian Television Authority(NTA) has spread digital broadcast signal to 32 states of the federation.

    The Managing Director of Star Times Nigeria, Mr. Joshua Wang, said this in Abuja at the Beijing TV drama broadcasting exhibition in Africa.

    He said the company would soon be taking the signal to 16 cities spread across the country.

    Wang said that the move would increase the digital television coverage of Nigeria to 80 per cent.

    He assured that the company would have achieved 100 per cent coverage of Nigeria by June 2015.

     

  • ‘Be fair to all political parties,Okorocha tells NTA

    The Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) has been urged to provide a level-playing ground for all political parties and their candidates to air their views, programmes and vision in the run-up to the 2015 general election.

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha made the call when the management team of the station led  by the General Manager of NTA Channel 12 Owerri, Mr. Leyi Nwinyode paid him a courtesy visit at the State Government House, Owerri.

    Okorocha said that the nation has come to a critical moment when those aspiring to rule the country would be judged on what they can offer to the people rather than by the political party they belong.

    The governor made it clear that his administration has instructed all the political parties to make use of all the government facilities such as the stadium, international conference centre, including the state radio station and its Television to enable them showcase their vision.

    He said that he has raised the bar of governance in Imo state and reminded them that those aspiring to contest for governorship election must have a blueprint on what they have in mind for the masses.

    He called for a synergy between the Imo state government and NTA and stressed the need for them to embark on investigative journalism and be independent in their reportage.

    Owelle Okorocha also advised them to always portray the image of the nation with programmes and stories that will tell well of the nation rather than carrying negative stories.

    The General Manager NTA, Mr. Leyi Nwinyode expressed gratitude for the relationship existing between Imo state government and NTA Owerri, pointing out that it is because of the relationship that made the station to introduce a programme for the state government christened “Rescue Mission in Action” without charging any fund.

    Mr. Nwinyode appealed to the state government to assist the station with some of the basic amenities especially by stabilizing the power supply and allowing the station to carry the programmes, projects, policies of the present administration.

  • ‘Absence of enabling law threatens digital migration project’

    The Radio, Television  and Theatre Workers  Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU) has expressed doubt over the sincerity of the Federal Government at ensuring that the country successfully transit from current analogue broadcasting technology to digital in line with the directive of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to all its member-countries.

    According to the group, while there is no legal teeth to the implementation of the programme in the country, many state governments still keep placing orders for analogue transmitters indicating that the success of the programme has been inextricably tied to the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA).

    Its Deputy Chair, Sunday Olu Jethro, who spoke in Lagos, said there is no legislation backing the digitisation in the country and expressed reservation about the government’s sincerity at ensuring that the project sails through.

    “Many state governments are still placing orders for analogue transmitters. State governments have not made commitment to digitisation. Stakeholders should look at the dangers of switching over without the enabling law in a country yet to distinguish between politics and governance,” he warned.

    Aside the absence of the enabling laws on the programme, there is also lack of awareness about the programme among the citizens that will be affected by the analogue switch off (ASO) and paucity of funds.

    Driver of the project, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), said it needs tens of billions of naira to execute the project, adding that it is exploring several options of raising the billions including seeking funding from multilateral organisations and discussing with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to see if it could get some level of funding from the broadcast spectrum that will be freed to telecoms as a result of the transition.

    Its Director-General, Emeka Mba, who spoke on the sideline of Digital Migration Summit in Lagos at the weekend, said massive funding and industry collaboration are needed to see to the successful implementation of the programme.

    The  ITU has set next year for member-countries to achieve analogue switch off. Nigeria had set 2012 as terminal date to achieve digital switch over (DSO) but missed the target.

    Mba said DSO requires significant collaboration from everybody, arguing that the impression that it was government or NBC’s project is completely flawed. He said it is a global affair and urging everybody to join hands and make success out of it.

    Speaking on funding on the occasion, Deputy Chair, Senate Committee on Information, Senator Bello Tukur, said there were concerns that the National Assembly is not doing anything currently towards the appropriation of requisite funding to support the digital migration process.

     

    Justifying why the nation has been running the economy without an Appropriation Act, Tukur said: “The 2014 appropriation bill has not been signed into law and there are a lot of reasons for the delay. We budget on the basis of what we have; the revenues we earn. But for the digitisation project, it depends on how you present your case to the House. You can still make representations even if it means going through special funds.”

    Responding Mba hinted that the commission is contemplating setting up a broadcasting fund to drive content development in the sector, adding that NBC is weighing the option of multi-lateral funding agency at single digit interest rates. While calling for the support of all broadcasters, Mba said the Jos pilot scheme will determine the shape of things, adding that digitisation is an opportunity to reinvent television in Nigeria.