Governor, State of Osun, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, says Africa’s television stations owe it a duty to set agenda for African leaders so that the continent can overcome its challenges and join the league of thriving continents in the world.
Oyetola said there is a need for Africa’s television stations to do
more to market the reputation of the continent by reporting its
potential and accomplishments to the world and countering the
negative reports and stereotypes of the western press about Africa.
Oyetola stated this while briefing Journalists shortly after
the Grand Finale of the 60th year Anniversary of Africa’s first
television station, the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA on October
31st, 1959, which was initially christened; Western Nigeria
Broadcasting Service, Ibadan.
Speaking further at the premises of the new International Press
Centre, University of Ibadan, venue of the event on Thursday, the governor explained that Africa’s television stations and other media must be at the forefront of protecting the interest of the continent in this second rush by other continents to scramble for Africa’s resources.
The Governor, who spoke through the Secretary to the State Government
of Osun, Prince Oluwole Oyebamiji, urged media houses on the continent
to ensure that Africa’s leaders use the resources of the continent
judiciously to deliver better life for its people. .
Oyetola explained that, stakeholders and opinion shapers of today, the
NTA and other media owe it a duty to put in their best to deliver a
better Africa to posterity, noting that Africa and Africans shall have
a good cause to gather in the next 60 years to celebrate a better,
more improved NTA and a more accomplished Africa.
He said the theme of the Diamond Anniversary, “Sixty Years of
Television in Africa: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” is a fitting attempt to do an exposé on the impact of the television as a genre of
broadcast and journalism to the development of the continent and its
projections for the future.
While congratulating the Foundation and the WNTV/NTA family on the diamond anniversary and for their services to Nigeria and the African
Continent, the Governor explained that the anniversary is a product of the vision of the founding fathers of the premier television station under the able and dynamic leadership of Pa. Obafemi Awolowo.
