Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma has proposed organising a countrywide media centre in honour of the overdue founding father of DAAR Communications Plc, Raymond Dokpesi.
Mr Uzodimma proposed this on Sunday whilst turning in the 3rd annual Diamond Lecture in Abuja in reminiscence of Mr Dokpesi.
The lecture, organised via the Nigerian Institute of Public Members of the family (NIPR) and DAAR Communications Plc, used to be themed Media, Democratic Consolidation and Building.
Mr Uzodimma mentioned the proposed centre would function a hub for media analysis, specializing in how journalism may well be harnessed to advertise financial expansion and construction.
He mentioned the initiative would assist keep the overdue Dokpesi’s legacy and advertise construction journalism. He additionally pledged to steer a marketing campaign to ascertain it.
“This memorial lecture is a great start line. However we will have to move a long way above that. The most productive tribute we will be able to pay to his reminiscence is to offer protection to that freedom and make certain that the journalism practised inside of it stays worthy of public believe.
“However I feel that as his buddies and colleagues we will have to take the lead via construction a countrywide media centre in his honour. The centre might be a hub for analysis at the media and the way it may be correctly channelled for financial construction, or, put merely, for construction journalism. I might be ready to steer within the marketing campaign for the established order of this centre,” he mentioned.
Mr Uzodimma mentioned Nigeria’s democracy would have the benefit of a media that would dangle public officers responsible with out intimidation.
“Our democracy might be higher served when the media can pursue the reality with out intimidation, when govt accepts the self-discipline of scrutiny, and when the establishments of responsibility reply to what’s established,” he mentioned.
The governor maintained that the proposed centre would assist maintain Mr Dokpesi’s legacy via strengthening the media’s contribution to democratic governance and nationwide construction.
Dokpesi’s legacy in Nigerian broadcasting
Mr Dokpesi, who died in Would possibly 2023 at 71, used to be a media entrepreneur credited with pioneering personal broadcasting in Nigeria. He based DAAR Communications Plc, the media corporate in the back of RayPower FM and Africa Unbiased Tv (AIT), after the rustic’s broadcasting trade used to be deregulated in 1992.
RayPower 100.5 FM started industrial broadcasting in Lagos on 1 September 1994, turning into Nigeria’s first personal radio station and pioneering round the clock radio broadcasting. Two years later, on 6 December 1996, Mr Dokpesi introduced AIT, which expanded the variety of tv programming to be had to Nigerians and was a platform for information, leisure and public affairs.
In the course of the two shops, Mr Dokpesi helped create alternatives for entertainers, tune manufacturers, and programme makers who had struggled to get entry to established broadcasters. AIT, particularly, supplied a platform for Nigerian tv productions, whilst RayPower contributed to the expansion of recent Nigerian tune and leisure.
Mr Dokpesi died in Abuja after reportedly falling whilst exercising on a treadmill as he recovered from an previous sickness. Stories on the time mentioned he had suffered a stroke sooner than his loss of life. His loss of life used to be introduced via his circle of relatives on 29 Would possibly 2023.
Past broadcasting, Mr Dokpesi used to be all for politics and philanthropy. His contribution to the media trade, specifically the growth of privately owned radio and tv, stays a central a part of his legacy. The proposed nationwide media centre in his honour would prolong that legacy via supporting analysis on how the media can reinforce responsibility, democratic governance, and nationwide construction.
NIPR hails Dokpesi’s legacy
In his remarks, NIPR Nationwide President Ike Neliaku counseled the overdue Mr Dokpesi for his integrity and dedication to press freedom.
Mr Neliaku mentioned the yearly Diamond Lecture used to be organised to rejoice Mr Dokpesi’s contributions to the expansion of Nigeria’s media trade and keep his legacy.
He additionally introduced the drawing close International Public Members of the family Discussion board, scheduled to happen in Abuja, pronouncing it might deliver in combination members from 126 international locations.
The NIPR president mentioned the institute had concluded arrangements for the development and used to be able to host members from the world over.
Uncover extra from Top rate Instances Nigeria
Subscribe to get the most recent posts despatched in your electronic mail.